engleski

Difficulties in assessing environmental suitability of timber skidding

This paper presents the way and measuring problems of assesing environmental suitability of timber skidding. Research results are based on uphill and downhill skidding on two skid trails with a slope of 15 % and 30 %. Measurement of wheel loads was performed by tensiometric method. Distribution of wheel loads during timber skidding is shown in dependence of the slope, load volume and skidding direction. Dynamic load of wheels exerts pressure on the soil. Depending on the soil bearing strength at the moment of wheel load, soil is compacted and wheel rut is formed. Wheel contact pressure was determined for each wheel. The ratio between soil cone index (measured by cone penetrometer) and wheel contact pressure is recommended for the evaluation of environmental acceptability of skidder work. By knowing the contact pressures of the skidder’ s wheel under exploitation conditions and by simple determining the soil bearing strength during work operations, it is possible to anticipate and avoid substantial soil damage. However, during the calculation, the measuring problem was raised for determination of wheel/soil contact area. There are many mathematical calculation models of the wheel/soil contact area based on tyre size and characteristics and inaccurate measuring methods.

skidder; wheel load; contact pressure; soil cone index

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