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Cranfield University

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Laboratory Studies Into Undercarriage Systems<br />

The width of the different units depended on the belt width. The TerraTrac had a belt width<br />

of 635 mm whereas all other units ran with 750 mm wide belts. This had the consequence<br />

that the rut area for these treatments was bigger. The rut depth corresponded to some extent<br />

to the results of the soil displacement measurements. For the TerraTrac unit max rut depth<br />

and rut area were smallest compared to Stocks, SPT, and Westtrack although no difference<br />

was apparent from soil displacement measurement. The TerraTrac at 50 bar belt tension<br />

created as well a significantly deeper maximum rut depth and larger rut area than at 160<br />

and 200 bar.<br />

3.3.2.5 Discussion and Conclusions<br />

The performance of the Stocks and Westtrack units compared to the TerraTrac unit could<br />

be attributed to the wider belt. The wider belt enabled them to reduce contact time while<br />

maintaining similar contact pressures. Yet, contact time could not be the mere reason as<br />

both, the Stocks and SPT unit, had 0.68 s less contact time than the TerraTrac unit, how-<br />

ever, the soil displacement below the SPT unit was highest. A smooth pressure distribution<br />

is essential. The more rollers there were in a track unit and the closer together these rollers<br />

were, the more uniform became the pressure application as demonstrated by the Stocks<br />

unit. If the TerraTrac unit was equipped with the wider belt of the other units, it would<br />

most likely outperform them.<br />

Although the previous section could not show a large effect of belt tension on soil physical<br />

parameters for a friction driven rubber track system, the low belt pressure of the SPT is an<br />

additional reason for its larger impact on soil physical properties. This is in accordance<br />

with Wong’s (2007) requirement for high belt tension and reasonable roller distribution.<br />

The Appendix contains a brief theoretical background of sinkage caused by tracks applying<br />

Bekker (1960).<br />

For track development it can be concluded that there is an optimum amount of rollers. Too<br />

few rollers are disadvantageous as the Stocks unit outperforms SPT. But above a treshhold<br />

value, the benefit from additional rollers becomes marginal (comparison of Stocks to the<br />

Westtrack unit) which agrees with Wong (2001) and Bekker (1960).<br />

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

57

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