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Cranfield University

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Experimental Methods<br />

track; the load difference can amount to 200 – 400 kg depending on the equipment of the<br />

machine (Verhorst, 2006).<br />

Measurements were replicated within a wheel rut at 2 m distance from each other as indi-<br />

cated by the yellow marks in Figure 5 and Figure 6. The field was assumed to be uniform,<br />

hence measurement replications were taken in a particular area to describe the behavior at<br />

a given point with high resolution. The uniformity was later confirmed by comparing the<br />

control measurements in penetrometer resistance at the different locations - no significant<br />

variations could be found. Gaining a further replication by using empty machines alone<br />

proved to be statistically sensible.<br />

2.2 Measurements of Parameters<br />

2.2.1 Soil Displacement<br />

Soil displacement was measured with two different methods. In the soil bin laboratory tal-<br />

cum powder lines were used as in Ansorge (2005, a) and slightly improved. In the field a<br />

new method utilizing fishing hooks was introduced.<br />

2.2.1.1 Soil Displacement Measurement in Soil Bin Laboratory<br />

A novel “non - invasive” procedure inspired by a technique of Trein (1995) was used to<br />

determine soil displacement (strain) and effective density change. This was achieved by<br />

placing longitudinal talcum powder lines into the soil during preparation and the measuring<br />

the change in their relative position following each passage of a tyre or track. Four sets of<br />

talcum powder lines were placed along the length of the soil bin. The position of the tal-<br />

cum powder lines is located from the digitized output of two drawstring transducers con-<br />

nected to a pin drawn to each talcum line appearing in the profile as a point, when the<br />

length of each draw string is recorded. Knowing the length of each drawstring and the dis-<br />

tance between the drawstring transducers, it is possible to calculate the vertical and hori-<br />

zontal coordinates of each point using triangulation formulae. As shown in Figure 7 two<br />

points on either side in the undisturbed area are taken as a control and linearly interpolated<br />

visualized with the white line to gain the initial coordinates of the central talcum powder<br />

points. Compared to the approach taken by Trein (1995) visualization has been enhanced<br />

Ph.D. Thesis Dirk Ansorge (2007)<br />

13

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