Computer aided structural optimisation methodologies have been applied successfully in design and manufacturing operations in industry for a long time, but still have not become a mainstream practice for agricultural machinery design and manufacturing operations. This paper presents a finite element based
design optimisation case study to introduce how computer aided design, numerical method analysis and optimisation techniques can be useful to obtain parameters for optimum design of agricultural machinery. In the study, the framework of a subsoiler is considered. The maximum force was applied to the tine virtually through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The results of the FEA were evaluated based on the material yield point and the evaluation showed that an optimisation study was suitable for select components. Based on the finite element method, related optimisation methodology and analyses were carried out for the selected component and the optimum size derived according to defined boundary conditions, other known design constraints and the objective of reducing material mass. Mass of the framework was reduced by 44.82% at
the final design. This research improved the understanding of the computer aided optimisation methodology for the design of agricultural machinery elements and contributes to further research into the development of agricultural machinery design aided through the utilisation of advanced computer aided engineering tools.