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Soil compaction caused by traffic frequency of rubber-tracked excavator
Abstract
The project site described in thi s study was assumed to have been subjected to induced compaction of the excavator that was used to clear the land. It was therefore necessary to estimate the compaction so induced. The experimental soil was a sandy clay soil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the soi I compaction induced by traffic of rubber- tracked, medium size Excavator, 3·1.9 KW power and 36.4 KN weight in a sandy clay soil. The study was conducted at the-Experimental site of the STEP B project of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria. The experimental soil was subjected to I. 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 passes of the Excavator. Variables measured include penetration resistance (PR), bu lk density (BO), and rut depth (RD). The variables were monitored at the centre lines of the left (L) and right(R) tracks of the Excavator. Results showed that means of the Land R values were not significantly different at the 5% level of significance. Mean values ofthe PR in the depth range of O to 30 cm were 1102.85, 1363.65, IL63.5, 1269.60, 1315.05 and 1428.8 kPa for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 passes respectively. PR increased with depth to a limit and then reduced in value in the range of depth considered. The maximum PR value occurred. between 15 and 20 cm depth. The average PR value before the excavator passes (control) was 420 kPa which was significantly different from those after the passes. The range of rut depth corresponding to J 1 passes was 4.6 and 14.8 cm. The moisture content during the experimentation ranged from 11.5 - 15.5% (db) in the depth range.
Key words: Induced compaction, Excavator, Penetration resistance, Rut depth
