A theoretical and experimental investigation of rubber track performance models

A model has been developed to study the traction performance of a rubber track unit on soft agricultural soils and also to predict the ground pressure distribution beneath the track. This model takes into account the effect of soil recovery under the consecutive road wheels of the track unit by using results obtained from repeated plate sinkage tests. An experimental study to simulate the effects of elastic and plastic soil deformation caused by loads under the consecutive road wheels of a rubber track unit was successfully accomplished using the soil strength parameters obtained from soil shear and plate sinkage tests. The sinkage parameters were obtained from repeated plate sinkage tests to simulate loading, unloading and reloading of soil under the track. Soil properties obtained from these tests were used in the model to validate it against experimental results of rubber track tractive performance obtained by means of tests on a single rubber track unit attached at the rear of a single-wheel tester. The comparisons between theoretical and experimental results show good agreement in a range of soil conditions. (C) 1998 Silsoe Research Institute.