Abstract
This article examines how the geometric parameters of bulldozer blades affect operational performance. The study compares standard moldboards with adaptive blades featuring articulated sections and flexible inserts. Key characteristics of both traditional and flexible-insert blades are described, along with the experimental methodology applied to assess their performance. The research highlights approaches to increasing efficiency and reducing bulldozer energy consumption. A notable improvement is achieved with blades that have a variable cutting angle or a flexible front surface. Such elements represent complex mechanical systems whose parameters can be optimized under different working conditions. The work emphasizes enhancing bulldozer equipment within traditional technological frameworks, which involve relatively low costs compared to full machine modernization. The study analyzes soil movement resistance along the blade and cutting resistance under changing curvature. A theoretical assessment is provided for flat blades with flexible front inserts, supported by experimental results identifying optimal parameters for variable-curvature and variable-angle blades. Tests on physical models further confirm these findings. This research was supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan under grant AP22684640 –“Development of an Articulated Bulldozer Blade Design with Multi-Level Geometric Adjustment.”