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Cranfield University

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Laboratory Studies Into Undercarriage Systems<br />

3.3 Track Studies<br />

The benefits found for TerraTracs by Ansorge (2005, a) raised the question how different<br />

belt tensions influence soil physical properties, i.e. what benefit could be gained from<br />

higher tension and what damage might be caused by less tension. Additionally of interest<br />

became how different track types compare to the TerraTrac. Thus, in a first instance the<br />

rubber belt tension was evaluated and in the second part, different track type units were<br />

evaluated. Additionally to penetrometer resistance, soil displacement, and rut characteris-<br />

tics, longitudinal pressure profiles described in Section 2.2.5 were measured for these treat-<br />

ments.<br />

3.3.1 Evaluation of the Effect of Rubber Belt Tension<br />

This section aims at evaluating the influence of belt tension in the Claas TerraTrac system<br />

on soil physical properties. Therefore the three idler Claas Terra Trac unit was run at a<br />

higher belt tension of 200 bar (20 t belt tension) and at a lower belt tension of 50 bar (5 t<br />

belt tension) whereby results were compared to the data gained at the common pressure of<br />

160 bar (16 t belt tension) from Ansorge (2005, a). A belt pressure of 160 bar is necessary<br />

for the TerraTrac as it is friction driven and hence relies on belt tension to develop draught.<br />

3.3.1.1 Penetrometer Resistance<br />

Penetrometer resistance for the TerraTrac at the three belt pressures is shown in Figure 36.<br />

There is a trend that shows that the peak penetrometer resistance reduces with increasing<br />

tension. In tendency the unit at 50 bar created the highest peak in penetrometer resistance<br />

close to the surface and its decrease in penetrometer resistance with depth was smaller than<br />

for higher pressures. At 200 bar the peak at the surface was smallest and therefore the<br />

penetrometer resistance at depth marginally smaller. However, taking the entire curves into<br />

consideration, no significant differences were found.<br />

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

48

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