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Conference paper2011Peer reviewed

Increased harvesting operation using adapted ground pressure to soil conditions

Wästerlund, I.; Andersson, E.

Abstract

The forest industry aim at an even flow of timber from the forest, and the ground damage has to be as low as possible. The two biggest causes for ground-damage are the bearing capacity of the forest ground and the ground-pressure of the harvesting machines. The aim of this study was to find out some rules for the machine choice considering ground pressure, when harvesting on ground with low bearing capacity. A field study, using a Valmet 890.3 forwarder, was carried out where different ground pressures and their effect on the ground were studied on two different types of ground. Additionally, an inventory of damaged harvesting grounds was made. These data, as well as data from two previous studies was used to study a possible trend for the rut depth according to used ground-pressure. The result showed that rut depth as well as soil compaction is less if the ground pressure from the forwarder is reduced by using tracks. For forwarders with high ground pressure (> 80 kPa), the rut depth increased significantly when operating on ground with cone-index (0.70 MPa) or softer. The model for machine-choice is a guideline for machine-use that fits the carrying capacity of the forest ground. However it is important to point out that the forest ground is very complex in its composition, and that it is difficult to predict damage.

Keywords

Cone index; Ground damage; Machine choice; Rut depth; Soil compaction

Published in

Title: 17th International Conference of the International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems 2011 : (ISTVS 2011) : Blacksburg, Virginia, USA 18-22 November 2011
Publisher: International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems

Conference

17th International Conference of the International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems 2011, ISTVS 2011

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Soil Science
Forest Science

Publication identifier

  • ISBN: 978-1-61839-598-6

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132307