Desert terrain characterization of landforms and surface materials within vehicle test courses at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, USA

The U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground is the Department of Defense desert environment test center within the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. The Yuma Proving Ground has ∼320 km of unpaved vehicle test courses that cross a variety of landforms of diverse geologic age and characteristics. The surface materials of the courses ranges from bedrock to silt and their topography varies from steep and rolling to flat. Research presented here aims to provide a systematic characterization of the terrain of eight vehicle endurance and three dust courses so that their comparability with other desert areas of the World may be assessed. Landform and surface cover (upper 1 m) characterization was accomplished by geomorphic mapping based on 1-m resolution IKONOS satellite imagery, 10-m digital elevation models, field verification, and by assimilating pre-existing soil surveys and geologic maps, as well as site-specific investigations. Results provide an assessment of each test course, including information on the landform, geology, surface materials, soil type, degree of desert pavement development, dust content, and percent slope. Data is presented both on individual terrain property maps for each course and in the form of tabulated data for each official milepost marker along the courses. The results for one course area and an example of how they may be used to assess comparability with another desert of interest are presented here with the objective to improve the fidelity of desert testing during material research, development, testing and evaluation prior to deployment in the field.     

贵州石漠化地区降雨条件下红粘土剪切强度特性随含水量变化关系探讨

西南喀斯特地区的石漠化已经严重影响了人民正常的生产生活。水土流失是石漠化过程中一个关键环节。喀斯特地区地表广泛覆盖的红粘土在降雨条件下随着含水量的增加和人工垦殖的影响,剪切强度会产生变化,更易发生水土流失。本文以贵州普定石漠化研究区（陈旗村）的红粘土为例,以原状土模拟未经扰动的土样,以重塑土来模拟经过开垦被扰动后的土样,设计了原状土和重塑土在不同含水量下的直剪试验,初步地研究了这一变化规律。结果表明:在含水量大于35%时,石漠化地区红粘土粘聚力和内摩擦角均随着含水量的增加显著降低;在同一含水量水平下,原状土的抗剪强度明显优于重塑土,且随着含水量的增加,重塑土的强度衰减较之原状土快许多,表明了经过人工垦殖后的红粘土在降雨条件下更易发生水土流失。       

黏性土渗透性温度效应实验研究

由于全球气候变暖、城市热岛效应加剧和核废料地质处置等原因,温度对黏性土工程性质的影响日益受到关注。本文在实验的基础上,采用直接测量法,对南京下蜀土、淤泥质土以及混合土3种试样,进行了5°～45°温度下的变水头渗透实验,分析了温度对黏性土渗透性的影响。实验结果表明：温度对3种试样的渗透性均有较大影响。温度越高,渗透性越大; 试样的密度越大,渗透系数随温度变化率越低; 在3种试样中,混合土的渗透系数高于淤泥质土和下蜀土的对应值,而淤泥质土的渗透系数又略大于下蜀土。最后对黏性土渗透性的温度效应机理进行了分析,认为水的动力黏滞性,黏粒的双电层厚度以及土的微结构三方面因素的共同作用引起了黏性土渗透性的温度效应。
黏性土,渗透系数,温度效应,机理     

粉土抗渗强度测定设备和方法研究

粉土是介于砂性土和黏性土之间的一种过渡类型土,工程性质既与砂性土不同又与黏性土有较大区别。针对目前还没有合适的室内实验仪器测试粉土临界水力比降和抗渗强度的现状,从试样极限平衡状态出发,对土体进行受力分析,研制了粉土抗渗强度测定设备,研究的实验方法解决了粉土饱和难问题。设计的变水头装置和透明接水容器,保证了粉土抗渗强度测定的可靠性和准确性。多个渗透容器并联成多套装置,可实现多个样本同时测定。对杭州钱塘江粉土的实验结果表明,粉土的临界水力比降与一般砂土有差异。原状样的抗渗强度比击实样高。铺设土工布抗渗层,将大大提高粉土的抗渗强度。研究结果可为粉土地基渗透破坏的防控提供参考。     

Vehicle mobility on highly organic soils

Current political climates have generated a renewed interest in the northern regions of the world. These areas are known to have soft marshy peat, highly organic soils, and harsh winter climates. Current capabilities for vehicle mobility modeling on this terrain is limited and existing studies do not include contemporary military vehicles. This work presents mobility experiments of modern military vehicles at multiple field sites containing peat or highly organic soils that can be used to improve mobility modeling on these soils. Field experiments are being conducted during multiple seasons, including winter, spring, and summer. The vehicle traction, motion resistance, and hard surface rolling resistance of an instrumented High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and a Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) were examined. The first is a common multi-purpose vehicle and the second is a vehicle designed to operate in these types of environments. This data set will provide the basis for model development and validation for vehicle mobility in highly organic soils.     

Clarification of vehicle cone index with reference to mean maximum pressure

The US Army developed Vehicle Cone Index (VCI) as a metric for directly quantifying the ability of vehicles to traverse soft-soil terrain. In order to ensure minimum soft-soil performance capabilities for their new military vehicles, the US Army has used VCI for many years as a performance specification. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) has used the Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP) parameter for many years as a performance specification. It has been demonstrated that the MMP parameter relates to soft-soil performance capabilities, and hence, the UK MOD has ensured minimum performance capabilities for their new military vehicles by using MMP specifications. Both the VCI and MMP specification approaches have served their users well, but fundamental differences in the two specification approaches have produced some misunderstandings concerning what VCI really is and how it relates to MMP. This article clarifies that VCI is a performance metric, not a set of predictive equations, explains how VCI is measured, and compares different methods of predicting VCI for one-pass performance (i.e., VCI₁) of wheeled vehicles in fat clay soils. It is further clarified that MMP should not be compared with VCI but instead with Mobility Index (MI), which is the principal parameter used by the US Army for predicting VCI. Relationships are presented for using MMP to predict VCI₁ for wheeled vehicles in clay, and the resulting relationships allow comparison between MMP and MI in terms of their ability to predict VCI. Seventy-nine VCI₁ performance measurements were used for the comparison, and they demonstrate that MI describes the historical performance data somewhat better than MMP.     

黄河三角洲粉质土的动模量和阻尼比试验研究

结合室内共振柱和动三轴实验,对黄河三角洲饱和原状粉质土体(粉土、粉砂、粉质粘土)动模量和阻尼比的影响因素和发展规律进行了详细的研究。研究表明,在粉粒和粘粒含量对动模量的共同影响中,粉粒含量起着举足起重的作用;侧限压力对归一化剪模比和阻尼比的影响均较显著,相比粘粒含量的影响不大。通过与Seed建议的砂土及饱和粘土的G/Gmax~γ曲线和λ~γ曲线进行对比,结果显示研究区的粉质土相比一般的砂土和饱和粘土而言,其动力变形特性更接近于砂土,但是与砂土也存在着非常明显的差异;其发展规律与其他地区沉积粉质土也较为不同,具有明显的区域性。采用修正了的Hard in-D rnevich模型和对数模型分别对G/Gmax~γ曲线和λ~γ曲线进行拟合,给出了三类粉质土的归一化动力变形G/Gmax~γ/γr关系曲线,对模型中有关参数的影响因素做了初步的探讨。     

Multipass coefficients for terrain impacts based on military vehicle type,size and dynamic operating properties

Quantification of multipass vehicle impacts is needed to determine terrain disturbance during military training. This study, conducted at Fort Riley, Kansas on a clay loam soil, evaluated the multipass terrain impacts of four military vehicles: the M1A1 Main Battle Tank, M998 HMMWV, M985 HEMTT, and M113 APC. Disturbed width and impact severity were assessed along 14 spirals subjected to a maximum of eight passes for a total of 696 impact points. Project goals included evaluating vegetation impacts by tracked and wheeled military vehicles across multiple passes in order to develop coefficients allowing more accurate predictive modeling of vehicle multipass impacts. Multiple passes produce increased vegetative impacts, with multipass coefficients (MPC) ranging from 0.98 to 4.44 depending on vehicle type, size and turn severity. Tracked vehicles were found to have a higher multipass coefficient than wheeled vehicles, with multipass coefficients increasing with vehicle weight and the sharpness of turns. The components of a more theoretical and universal multipass vehicle impact model are discussed. Understanding multipass dynamics will allow land managers to determine the extent and severity of terrain impacts on military training areas and quickly evaluate vehicle environmental impacts when used in conjunction with a GPS-based vehicle tracking system (VTS).     

Establishment of safe axle loads for sugarcane soils under varying moisture content

Studies were conducted for the establishment of safe axle loads for sugarcane hauling vehicles beyond which detrimental soil compaction would be induced. The treatments involved running a loaded test vehicle in field strips previously chosen at random. Safe loads were established by testing the level of significance of the difference in induced soil compaction between treated and non-treated sections. Working under soil moisture contents of 21.4–27.1% (dry basis), safe axle loads for two 18.4 × 30 tires were found to be 55.6 and 60.0 kN for sandy clay loam and sandy loam soils with initial dry bulk density about 1.434 g/cm³. These corresponded to ground contact pressures of 111 and 120 kPa, respectively.     

深部土高压卸载变形结构性量化参数确定及本构模型

用取自山东巨野矿区埋深300～600m的深部粘土样,在三轴伺服仪上进行原状和重塑土的高压三轴卸载试验,对比分析其变形特点;提出一种描述深部土高压卸载变形与强度连续变化的土结构性参数的方法,并根据三轴卸载试验结果,确定了巨野矿区深部土高压卸载变形结构性参数,建立了描述巨野矿区深部土高压卸载结构性本构模型。     

Source apportionment of atmospheric particulate carbon in Las Vegas,Nevada, USA

A study was conducted to quantify wintertime contributions of source types to carbonaceous PM_2.5 at four urban sites in the Las Vegas Valley, one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the southwestern United States. Twenty-four hour average ambient samples were collected for mass, ions, elements, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and trace organic markers analysis. Additional measurements were made to determine diurnal patterns in light-absorbing black carbon (BC) as a marker for combustion sources. Carbonaceous PM sources of on-road gasoline vehicles, on-road diesel vehicles, and off-road diesel engines were characterized with their chemical profiles, as well as fuel-based emission factors, using an In-Plume Sampling System. The Effective Variance Chemical Mass Balance (EV-CMB) source apportionment model was applied to the ambient samples collected, using source profiles developed in this study as well as profiles from other relevant studies. Four main sources contributed to PM_2.5 carbon within the Las Vegas Valley: (1) paved road dust, (2) on-road gasoline vehicles, (3) residential wood combustion, and (4) on-road diesel vehicles. CMB estimated that on-road mixed fleet gasoline vehicles are the largest source for OC and EC at all the sites. The contribution of paved road dust to both OC and EC was 5–10% at the four sites. On-road diesel vehicles contribute 22% of the OC and 34% of the EC at a site near the city center, which is located immediately downwind of a major freeway. Residential wood combustion is a more important source than on-road diesel vehicles for two residential neighborhood sites. These results are consistent with our conceptual model, and the research methodology may be applied to studying other urban areas.     

Linear Elastic Wave Propagation in Unsaturated Sands,Silts, Loams and Clays

Due to its propitious material properties sandstone is the most studied porous medium for the investigation of linear wave propagation. However, in practical applications the behavior of other soil types, i.e., especially the three main soil types sand, silt, and clay, are much more important. Therefore, the model for partially saturated soils introduced by Albers (Habilitation Thesis, 2010a) is applied to 11 soil types classified in the German standard DIN 4220 to obtain information on the phase velocities and attenuations of the three longitudinal waves and the shear wave appearing in such media.     

Sinkage tests for mobility study, modelling and experimental validation

The sinkage of the bearing tracks or wheels of a vehicle in soil induces a resistance to travel motion. Usually it is determined with methods based on the modelling of soil pressure-sinkage curves. This article presents a new method for modelling soil penetration tests as a result of experimental study of three standard soils. These soils have been chosen to represent the mechanical properties of a range of soils: a sand for frictional soils, a silt for cohesive soils and a silty sand for cohesive frictional soils. The models take into account the mechanical behaviour of soils where a small vertical sinkage can be assumed analogous to elastic behaviour, while for large sinkage, the analogy is with plastic behaviour. A New Model of Mobility (N2M) is proposed. A new equation relating the pressure p and the sinkage z is governed by four parameters which are constant for a specific soil in a given physical state. These parameters can be calculated with two sinkage tests made with two different plate diameters and are particularly stable: a small change of one of them involves a small change of the modelling. They are independent of the size of the sinkage plate and hence could pave the way for the extrapolation to the scale of full size vehicles. For the tested soils, comparison of the model results with experimental tests is very promising.     

Tire compaction capacity rating on non-standard soil

Tire Compaction Capacity rating system with its CC index was evolved to support the choice of proper tires for off-road vehicles or machines operating on crop producing land with aim to prevent harmful compaction of the ground. This system, fundamentally presented in the Journal of Terramechanics, Vol. 52/2014, is based on a great number of laboratory compaction tests in common clay–loam soil (here marked as standard soil). The presented article deals especially with more accurate application of numerical rating to sandy and clay soils (very different grain size) under the designation equivalent Compaction Capacity (eCC) index, however, is applicable to an arbitrary soil type. The features and practical use of eCC rating are explained and discussed in this technical note.     

Rapid stabilization of thawing soils: field experience and application

Thawing soils can severely restrict vehicle travel on unpaved surfaces. However, a variety of materials and construction techniques can be used to stabilize thawing soils to reduce immobilization problems. The US Engineer Research and Development Center's Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) and the Wisconsin National Guard evaluated several stabilization techniques in a field demonstration project during spring thaw at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, in 1995. Additional tests on chemical stabilizing techniques were conducted at CRREL's Frost Effects Research Facility. The results of these test programs were reduced to a decision matrix for stabilizing thawing ground, and used during the deployment of US troops in Bosnia during January and February of 1996. The soil frost and moisture conditions expected during this time frame were predicted using MIDFROCAL (MIDwest FROst CALculator). This paper is an overview of the stabilization techniques evaluated and their recommended application based on the expected soil frost conditions and traffic requirements. Although the experiments were performed with military vehicles in mind, the techniques are suitable for many civilian applications such as forestry, construction, mining, and oil exploration.     

Surrogate atmospheric dust particles generated from dune soils in laboratory: Comparison with field measurement

Desert dust strongly influences the climate and the environment by altering the radiation budget, participating in atmospheric chemical reactions, and engaging the biogeochemical cycle. Studying its impacts requires knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the original particles from the source origin. Unfortunately, the field collection of atmospheric samples in the desert is impractical. Fine surface soil is thus considered an alternative material from which to obtain the information applicable to dust particles from the desert soil. In this study, a laboratory system was set up to generate dust particles with simulated natural wind erosion processes from surface soils or directly from desert surfaces. Surface soils and field dust were simultaneously collected during a local blowing dust event. The comparison between the laboratory-generated dust and the field dust showed a consistent trend in particle size distribution and chemical composition. The chemical compositions were found to have explainable differences with the Certified Reference Materials for Asian dust (CJ-2). The laboratory-generated dust particles with the system could be applied as surrogates for soil-emitted dust in desert areas.     

Cone penetration resistance equation as a function of the clay ratio, soil moisture content and specific weight

The cone penetrometer is a simple versatile device which is widely used to monitor the strength of a soil in terms of its resistance to the penetration of a standard cone. The soil penetration resistance is a function of soil moisture content, soil specific weight and soil type. The soil type is characterised by means of a clay ratio which is the ratio of the clay content of the soil to the content of silt and sand.Based on the classical bearing capacity theories for strip foundations, a general cone penetration resistance equation is developed to represent the variability of cohesion and friction angle by means of soil type and moisture content. The empirical relationship is shown to give an accurate prediction of the cone penetration resistance for a wide range of soils from a loamy sand to a heavy clay (clay ratios 0.10–1.60) and over a wide spectrum of soil moisture contents from 10 to 65% w/w.     

Mineralogical characteristics of soil dust from source regions in northern China

Mineral compositions of aerosol particles were investigated at four sites （Aksu, Dunhuang, Zhenbeitai, and Tongliao） in desert regions of northern China from March to May in 2001 and 2002 during the intensive field campaign period of ACE-Asia （Aerosol Characterization Experiments-Asia）. The X-ray diffraction （XRD） results show the main minerals for Asian dust are illite, chlorite, kaolinite, quartz, feldspar, calcite, and dolomite. Gypsum, hornblende, and halite are also detected in several samples. Semi-quantitative mineralogical data of aerosol samples show that carbonate content decreases from western to eastern source areas; that is, soil dust collected at western source area sites of Dunhuang and Aksu are enriched with carbonate, while northeastern source area site of Tongliao is associated with low carbonate content. But the spatial distribution of feldspar exhibits a different pattern as compared to carbonate, increasing from the western to the eastern sources. The total clay content is significantly higher （73% in average） at the deposition site of Changwu than those at source areas. Air-mass back trajectory studies for the three dust storm events observed at Changwu, showed that soil dust transport pathways were as expected from carbonate content for the source identification, further demonstrating that carbonate was a useful tracer for eolian dust on regional scale in northern China.     

Effects of timber skidding on chemical characteristics of herbaceous cover, forest floor and topsoil on skidroad in an oak (Quercus petrea L.) forest

This paper examines the effects of timber harvesting by skidding on some soil properties (sand, silt, clay, pH, organic carbon, bulk density and compaction), herbaceous cover (unit mass) and forest floor (unit weight) properties. Also N (%), P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn (ppm) were determined in all herbaceous cover, forest floor and two soil depth (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm) on skidroad of an oak (Quercus petrea L.) stand in Istanbul Belgrad Forest – Turkey. In this study, obtained results are; the forest floor and the herbaceous cover amount on the skidroad have been found considerably lower than undisturbed area. There were some crucial changes in the characteristics of the soil which has been investigated down to 10 cm depth. Soil bulk density was found quite high in the samples taken from the skidroad subject to compaction compared to the ones on the undisturbed area. Nevertheless, no important difference had been detected between the skidroad and the undisturbed area at both soil depths in terms of organic carbon contents. Moreover, the soil acidity (pH) values showed noteworthy differences in the analysis of soil samples taken from both soil depths on the skidroad and on the undisturbed area. Fe and Cu contents of herbaceous samples on skidroad were significantly higher than undisturbed area. Forest floor on skidroad had significantly higher K content, and significantly lower Zn, Mn and N content compared to undisturbed area. P, Fe, Zn and Mn contents were found significantly lower in 0–5 cm soil depth on skidroad than undisturbed area. In 5–10 cm soil depth, concentrations of N, P, Fe, Zn and Mn were significantly lower, while Mg and Cu contents were significantly higher than undisturbed area. Results indicate that long-term harvest using skidding techniques on these sites had adversely affected soil cation concentrations, physical soil conditions and mass of herbaceous cover and forest floor.     

断层泥显微特征研究在桥基稳定性评价中的应用

基于SEM研究了桥基断裂断层泥的原状显微结构和显微构造、石英碎砾的显微构造、表面刻蚀形貌和结构特征 ,并进一步分析和评价了断裂的抗震和抗断关键问题 ,其对系统论证在断裂带上建设特大型过江桥梁工程的稳定性具有重大实际意义 ,并为镇扬大桥工程的合理设计和安全运行提供了地质依据