tractive effort

English

Noun

tractive effort (plural tractive efforts)

1. (engineering, rail transport) the tractive force that can be generated by a prime mover to pull a load; cardinal examples are a locomotive pulling a train, a semi-tractor pulling a trailer or a tractor pulling a plow.
   • 1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co.:

     Consequently, they developed articulateds capable of exerting 7500 drawbar horsepower or a starting tractive effort of 170,000 pounds.

Synonyms

• tractive force

Coordinate terms

• thrust (the analogue for aircraft engines, rocket engines, and watercraft propulsion)
• torque (moment of force) (the analogue in rotational reference)