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Simulating soil deformation using a critical‐state model: II. Soil compaction beneath tyres and tracks
Author(s) -
KIRBY J.M.,
BLUNDEN B.G.,
TREIN C.R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 1351-0754
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1997.tb00185.x
Subject(s) - compaction , geotechnical engineering , void ratio , compressibility , soil compaction , finite element method , geology , displacement (psychology) , soil water , critical state soil mechanics , environmental science , soil science , structural engineering , mechanics , engineering , physics , constitutive equation , psychology , psychotherapist
Summary A critical‐state finite element model was used to simulate compaction under single and dual tyres and tracks. The compaction involved deformations at three different scales, from small tyres with a contact area of about 70 cm 2 (single tyre) supporting a load of about 50 kg, to large tyres of about 1.2 m 2 (dual tyres) supporting a load of about 4500 kg. The predictions were compared with measured values for several different quantities. These included: rut depths; vertical displacement and shear strain: vertical stresses; and, void ratios and precompression stress measured on sampled soil cores. In general, the predictions and measurements agreed reasonably well. However, the agreement between prediction and measurement depended on the precision of measurements, soil disturbance, and the volume of soil involved in a measurement relative to the volume of soil influenced by the tyre or track. This study shows that the critical‐state finite element model is useful, offering insight into the compaction process, the dependence of compaction on soil strength and compressibility, and practical implications for soil management.