DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ERGONOMIC BULLOCK CART YOKE USING CAD MODELLING AND FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Abstract: Bullock carts remain an important mode of transportation and agricultural operation in rural regions, where the yoke serves as a key component for transmitting pulling forces from animals to the cart. Conventional yoke designs often suffer from improper load distribution, reduced durability and discomfort to animals due to non-optimized geometry and material selection. The present study focuses on the design and development of an improved bullock cart yoke using computer-aided design and engineering analysis techniques. A three-dimensional model was developed using SolidWorks considering ergonomic and structural requirements. Finite Element Analysis was performed in ANSYS to evaluate stress distribution, deformation behaviour and structural performance under working load conditions. The proposed design demonstrates improved load transfer characteristics, reduced stress concentration and enhanced durability compared to traditional designs. The developed yoke provides better operational efficiency and improved comfort while maintaining cost effectiveness suitable for rural applications. The study highlights the application of modern engineering design tools in optimizing traditional agricultural equipment.

Keywords: Bullock Cart, Yoke Design, Solidworks, Finite Element Analysis, Structural Optimization, Mechanical Design.