Evaluation of penetrometers for measuring soil strength

Cone index, as determined by a cone penetrometer, is frequently used as a measure of soil strength. The index is a compound parameter involving components of shear, compressive and tensile strength and soil metal friction. In order to assess the effect of soil type and condition on the relative contributions of these components to penetration resistance, the forces required to push blunt and sharp probes into two soils under a range of moisture contents and bulk densities were investigated. The maximum penetration force in homogeneous soil was not uniquely related to dry bulk density or cohesion, but varied with soil moisture content.At high and low moisture contents, the soil tended to interact with the shaft of the penetrometer thus increasing the resistance to penetration. At low moisture content, bodies of compressed soil formed in front of the probe, effectively changing the probe geometry.It was concluded that interpretation of cone index in typical layered field soils is difficult. Even in homogeneous soils, the proportion of shear, compressive and tensile components that the cone index reflects varies with soil condition.     

An empirical model to predict soil bulk density profiles in field conditions using penetration resistance, moisture content and soil depth

Cylindrical soil probes measuring 300 mm in diameter by 300 mm in height were prepared in the laboratory using samples extracted from a well drained loamy soil (FAO classification: Vertic Luvisol). These probes were compacted at different moisture contents [3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 (% w/w)] and using different compaction energies (9.81, 49.05, 98.1 and 981 J). The soil penetration resistance was determined by means of the ASAE 129 mm² base area cone and seven other different cones with base sizes of 175, 144, 124, 98, 74, 39 and 26 mm². The variability of the penetration resistance measurements increased as the size of the cone decreased. Nevertheless, the penetration resistance values proved to be independent of the cone used, as long as the size of the latter was equal to or greater than 98 mm². This confirms the possibility of using cones with areas smaller than the ASAE standard when measurements are to be carried out in dry soils with high levels of mechanical resistance. The experimental data were used to develop an empirical model, a linear additive model on a log–log plane, capable of estimating soil bulk density depending on soil penetration resistance, soil moisture content and depth. This model has provided good results under field conditions and has allowed soil bulk density profiles and accumulated water profiles to be accurately estimated.     

Soil response to track and wheel tractor traffic

Experiments were conducted on a Eudora silt loam to determine the effect of tracked and wheeled tractor traffic on cone penetration resistance and soil bulk density at three different soil-water content levels. Treatment plots were ripped to a depth of 0.45 m and irrigated 5 days prior to the experiment. Significant differences in penetration resistance and bulk density were observed between the treatments within the plowing depth (0.30 m). After the tractor passes, the average penetration resistance recorded was about 7.5% higher and the soil bulk density was about 3% higher in the wheel treatment plots. However, at the soil-water content level close to Proctor optimum (15% w/w), no significant difference was observed in the average penetration resistance of the two treatments.     

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.     

Non-linear finite element analysis of cone penetration in layered sandy loam soil – Considering precompression stress state

Axisymmetric finite element (FE) method was developed to simulate cone penetration process in layered granular soil. The FE was modeled using ABAQUS/Explicit, a commercially available package. Soil was considered as a non-linear elastic plastic material which was modeled using variable elastic parameters of Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s ratio and Drucker–Prager criterion with yield stress dependent material hardening property. The material hardening parameters of the model were estimated from the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory – Auburn University (NSDL-AU) soil compaction model. The stress–strain relationship in the NSDLAU compaction model was modified to account for the different soil moisture conditions and the influence of precompression stress states of the soil layers. A surface contact pair (‘slave-master’) algorithm in ABAQUS/Explicit was used to simulate the insertion of a rigid cone (RAX2 ABAQUS element) into deformable and layered soil medium (CAX4R ABAQUS element). The FE formulation was verified using cone penetration data collected on a soil chamber of Norfolk sandy loam soil which was prepared in two compaction treatments that varied in bulk density in the hardpan layer of (1) 1.64 Mg m⁻³ and (2) 1.71 Mg m⁻³. The FE model successfully simulated the trend of cone penetration in layered soils indicating the location of the sub-soil compacted (hardpan) layer and peak cone penetration resistance. Modification of the NSDL-AU model to account for the actual soil moisture content and inclusion of the influence of precompression stress into the strain behavior of the NSDL-AU model improved the performance of FE in predicting the peak cone penetration resistance. Modification of the NSDL-AU model resulted in an improvement of about 42% in the finite element-predicted soil cone penetration forces compared with the FE results that used the NSDL-AU ‘virgin’ model.     

The determination of plough draught—Part I. prediction from soil and meteorological data with cone index as the soil strength parameter

Using cone index as an indication of soil strength, empirical equations are developed in accordance with soil mechanics theory to relate soil moisture content to plough draught. The plough draught equation comprises a quasi-static component dependent on cone index and a dynamic component which is a function of the soil specific weight, plough speed and mouldbard tail angle. It is further argued that the cohesive and frictional components of the cone penetration resistance can be predicted by means of a simple equation comprising a reciprocal function of the square of the soil moisture content and a linear function of the soil specific weight. The cone index equation explained 98% of the experimental data for threthree soils over a wide range of moisture contents. These empirical equations, together with a soil moisture model, provide a method of predicting plough draught directly from soil and meteorological data.     

Hysteresis in soil mechanical behavior

The performance of a vertical tine was investigated at various water contents during wetting and drying cycles in a clay-loam soil. Results showed that at a given water content the soil during the wetting cycle failed by fracture mode and offered relatively more draft. Soil during the drying cycle cracked, and when a tine was pushed through the soil, it failed along the cracks. This failure mode was referred to as preferential fracture. For a given water content, tine forces and soil shear strength properties were found to be greater during the wetting cycle than the drying cycle, which leads to the conclusion that there is a hysteresis effect in soil caused by drying stress induced by seasonal wetting and drying.     

Modeling compaction in agricultural soils

Research was conducted to quantify the effect of tire variables (section width, diameter, inflation pressure); soil variables (soil moisture content, initial cone index, initial bulk density); and external variables (travel speed, axle load, number of tire passes) on soil compaction and to develop models to assess compaction in agricultural soils. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory soil bin at the Asian Institute of Technology in three soils, namely: clay soil (CS), silty clay loam soil (SCLS), and silty loam soil (SLS). A dimensional analysis technique was used to develop the compaction models. The axle load and the number of tire passes proved to be the most dominant factors which influenced compaction. Up to 13% increase in bulk density and cone index were observed when working at 3 kN axle load in a single pass using a 8.0–16 tire. Most of the compaction occurred during the first three passes of the tire. It was also found that the aspect ratio, tire inflation pressure and soil moisture content have significant effect on soil compaction. The initial cone index did not show significant effect. The compaction models provided good predictions even when tested with actual field data from previous studies. Thus, using the models, a decision support system could be developed which may be able to provide useful recommendations for appropriate soil management practices and solutions to site-specific compaction problems.     

The residual effects of tracked vehicles on soil surface properties

Differences in soil surface properties were measured on soil cores collected from within tracks and adjacent undisturbed areas. The passage of tracks resulted in an increase in bulk density, a reduction in saturated hydraulic conductivity and an increase in cone penetrometer resistance. Laboratory direct-shear tests showed in-track soil was stronger than out-of-track samples. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of in-track soil cores increased with an increasing number of wetting and draining cycles, whereas out-of-track samples showed little change. Implications for erosion, vegetation regeneration and management strategies for off-road vehicle areas are discussed, with some speculation as to the rate of recovery of impacted areas.     

Effect of multiple passes of tractor with varying normal load on subsoil compaction

A field experiment was conducted on alluvial soil with sandy loam texture, in a complete randomized design, to determine the compaction of sub-soil layers due to different passes of a test tractor with varying normal loads. The selected normal loads were 4.40, 6.40 and 8.40 kN and the number of passes 1, 6, 11 and 16. The bulk density and cone penetration resistance were measured to determine the compaction at 10 equal intervals of 5 cm down the surface. The observations were used to validate a simulation model on sub-soil compaction due to multiple passes of tractor in controlled conditions. The bulk density and penetration resistance in 0–15 cm depth zone continuously increased up to 16 passes of the test tractor, and more at higher normal loads. The compaction was less in different sub-soil layers at lower levels of loads. The impact of higher loads and larger number of passes on compaction was more effective in the soil depth less than 30 cm; for example the normal load of 8.40 kN caused the maximum bulk density of 1.53 Mg/m³ after 16 passes. In 30–45 cm depth layer also, the penetration resistance increased with the increase in loads and number of passes but to a lesser extent which further decreased in the subsoil layers below 45 cm. Overall, the study variables viz. normal load on tractor and number of passes influenced the bulk density and soil penetration resistance in soil depth in the range of 0–45 cm at 1% level of significance. However, beyond 45 cm soil depth, the influence was not significant. The R² calculated from observed and predicted values with respect to regression equations for bulk density and penetration resistance were 0.7038 and 0.76, respectively.     

静力触探锥头阻力的近似理论与实验研究进展

锥头阻力在静力触探试验中扮演着十分重要的角色.从不同角度,对触探中锥头阻力的研究进行简要阐述,对承载力理论、空洞膨胀理论、应变路径法及运动点位错法等几种理论分析方法进行了回顾.另外,对数值分析和实验研究的进展情况进行了叙述.并对各种方法的适用性进行了比较.承载力理论虽然简单,但忽略了土的压缩性和探杆周围初始应力的增加,所以不能精确地模拟锥头的深层贯入.空洞膨胀理论提供了一个分析锥头阻力的简单而较精确的方法,它考虑了土的压缩性(或膨胀性)和锥头贯入过程中锥杆周围应力增加的影响.但这种方法是将锥头贯入与空洞膨胀之间做了一个等效模拟,所以不同的模拟方法,得到的结果差别较大.应变路径法能够有效解决饱和粘土中的不排水贯入,但不适用于砂土.运动点位错法因为考虑了部分排水,所以能较好地预测固结系数,但采用了线弹性分析,故位错法在其他方面的应用还需要大量的试验验证.有限元法在处理锥头贯入这类慢侵彻问题时缺乏一种很好的处理技术,导致它在进行破坏荷载计算时有显著的误差和数值计算困难.标定槽试验将在验证和建立锥头阻力与土的性能关系方面继续起到一个重要作用,但其结果需经过校正后才可应用到现场.最后对该领域的研究趋势进行了讨论.      

Soil strength as affected by tillage system and wheel traffic in wheat -corn rotation in central Anatolia

This paper discusses the loading of a typical central Anatolian soil by the most commonly used corn and wheat production agricultural equipment. It further describes the effect that loading and soil conditions have on soil strength, namely compaction, and proposes techniques for minimizing undesired soil compaction. Experiments were carried out on a typical central Anatolian medium-textured imperfectly drained clay loam soil (Cambisol). Three different tillage methods and subsequently the same field operations were used for each rotation. Shear strength, penetration resistance, bulk density and moisture variations were detected in four sampling periods at each rotation. Tillage reduced the soil strength with the mouldboard plough causing the greatest loosening. However, natural processes and the vehicular traffic caused the soil to be re-compacted to about the same values as before. In any of the cases the obtained parameters did not exceed the critical values for plant growth except the penetration resistance in the 20–30 cm depth layer during corn production.     

Flow properties of three fuel powders

Flow and physical properties were measured for three fuel powders: sawdust, brown coal and hard coal. Besides physical properties, e.g., particle size, bulk density and moisture content, flowability was investigated using the standard shear testing technique of the Jenike shear cell. Flow functions of the three powders used for characterization of bulk flow and design of hoppers were determined, and then compared and discussed. The flow functions of the three powders are located in different regions: while brown coal and hard coal were classified respectively as easy flowing and cohesive material, sawdust was found in regions varying from cohesive to easy flowing at low consolidation stress. The measured effective angle of internal friction and angle of wall friction were 55° and 31.4° for sawdust; 36.2° and 26° for brown coal; and 43.3° and 27.8° for hard coal. Using the measured powder flow properties, Jenike's procedure was then followed to estimate and compare the critical hopper dimensions for mass flow of the three powders.     

Traffic-soil-plant (maize) relations

Twenty-five treatments consisting of three vehicle contact pressures, 62, 41 and 31 kPa (0.63, 0.42, 0.32 kg/cm²), four numbers of tractor passes (1, 5, 10, 15,) before and after seeding groups, and a control of zero traffic were used to study the effect of soil compaction on corn plant root growth and distribution in a Ste. Rodalie clay soil. The average dry bulk density values for 0–20 cm depths measured during the season varied from a minimum of 0.89 g/cm³ to a maximum of 1.12 g/cm³ depending on the severity of the treatment. Root distribution maps were obtained for all the treatments by field measurements coupled with root washing methods. An average root density of 5.7 mg/g of soil in an uncompacted control plot was reduced to less than 2 mg/g in a plot with 15 passes of 0.63 kg/cm² contact pressure. Soil penetration resistance values in various plots were compared, and a statistical model was obtained in terms of the traffic treatments, soil moisture content and depth. Yield reductions and penetration resistance were compared to root distrubution density results.     

非饱和黏性土抗剪强度的温度效应试验研究

为了系统地了解温度对黏性土工程性质的影响,本文采用南京地区三种不同矿物成分的黏性土,制成不同含水量和干密度的试样,在5~45℃条件下,开展了抗剪强度试验,获得了三种土的非饱和重塑试样的抗剪强度与温度的关系。试验结果表明:黏性土的黏聚力随温度升高呈线性变化; 亲水矿物含量较高的黏性土抗剪强度对温度变化较敏感,黏聚力随着温度的升高而降低,表现为强度的热软化现象; 亲水矿物含量较低的黏性土,当含水量较低(w≤17%)时,表现为强度的热硬化现象,当含水量较高(w≥22%)时,表现为强度的热软化现象,且干密度越高的试样,强度的温度效应越明显。论文还分析了非饱和黏性土抗剪强度的热硬化和热软化的内在机理。     

Cone resistance in sand by incremental method

A new method has been developed for the determination of cone resistance under drained conditions. Numerical methods are used for the solution of the differential equations of plasticity theory for soils and for the determination of the stress states in the soil produced by the penetration of the cone. It is assumed that the stresses produced by the penetration of the cone remain ‘locked in’ the soil and constitute boundary conditions for further penetration. The computation starts with the cone base at the surface and is continued by successively incrementing the depth by a small amount. Charts are given for the computation of cone resistance in sands for various friction angles. The importance of the effect of the shear stresses generated at the surface of the cone and characterized by the interface friction angle, δ, is discussed in detail.     

An overview of methods to convert cone index to bevameter parameters

This paper reviews experimental methods for the conversion of cone index measurements to bevameter parameters in support of vehicle soil/tire/track interactions for two general soil types, sand and lean clay. The accurate prediction of traction, motion resistance, and sinkage of tire/tracks off-road requires estimates of soil strength. Equipment used in the measurement of soil strength to support predictions of off-road mobility include the bevameter and the cone penetrometer. The portability of the cone penetrometer and rapid estimates of spatial/temporal variability in all terrain conditions make it an invaluable tool. The bevameter, a less portable tool, is used for the mechanical analysis of soils. The bevameter measures parameters defining soil strength in terms of cohesive modulus of soil deformation (k_c), frictional modulus of soil deformation (k_φ), exponent of soil sinkage (n), cohesion (c), angle of internal friction (φ), and the plate pressure at 1 in. (2.54 cm) of penetration (K) (Bekker, 1969). The field of terramechanics would greatly benefit from having the ability to convert cone penetrometer data in areas where bevameter parameters are difficult to collect. That ability to convert from cone index to bevameter parameters could be used for the large sets of existing cone index data to support determination of traction and motion resistance. This paper examines those methods for converting cone index to bevameter plate penetration parameters k_c, k_φ, and n.     

The determination of plough draught—Part II the measurement and prediction of plough draught for two mouldboard shapes in three soil series

The draught of a 3-furrow reversible plough fitted with two types of bodies was measured at five separate test sites. Each site was ploughed on four different days to provide a range of soil moisture contents. The plough was operated at three different speeds in sequence for each type of body. The horizontal and vertical forces transmitted to the tractor were measured on a three-point linkage dynamometer. Tachogenerators monitored tractor wheel speed and fifth wheel ground speed. Cone index and soil specific weight were recorded at 30 mm intervals throughout the top-soil profile. Cone index at median plough depth was found to be a satisfactory measure of soil strength for the prediction of plough draught. Characterising specific plough draught by soil cone index, specific weight, moisture content, plough mouldboard tail angle and ploughing speed provided predicted values in closer agreement with measured draught compared with earlier equations. The sensitivity of cone index to soil moisture content supports the use of the cone penetrometer as a practical monitor of soil conditions in the field and as a management tool for judging the opportune times for agricultural tillage operations.     

Changes in some mechanical properties of a loamy soil under the influence of mechanized forest exploitation in a beech forest of central Belgium

Modification of some soil mechanical properties (penetration resistance and consolidation pressure) induced by vehicle compaction during mechanized forest exploitation was studied in an acid and loamy leached forest soil of the loessic belt of central Belgium. In situ penetration tests and laboratory Bishop–Wesley cell tests were undertaken for the two main soil horizons of a beech high-forest, i.e. the eluvial E horizon (5–30 cm depth) and the underlying clay-enriched B_t horizon (30–60 cm depth). Both undisturbed and wheel-rutted soil areas were studied (E and B_t horizons vs. E_g and B_tg horizons).

Results show that: The experimental overconsolidation pressure of the eluvial reference horizon (E) is about 50 kPa higher than the value calculated from soil overburden pressure; this probably results from suction action during dry periods. The clay-enriched reference horizon (B_t) shows the same trends. In wheel-rutted areas, seven years after logging operations, the E_g horizon memorizes only 14.5% of the wheel induced stress due to forest machinery.

In the compacted B_tg horizon, the experimental overconsolidation pressure represents 96% of the exerted theoretical stresses due to harvesting actions. The good recording of the exerted stresses, after seven years, can be explained by: (1) The B_tg depth which keeps it from seasonal variations i.e. from desiccation–moistening or freeze–thaw cycling; (2) amorphous and free iron accumulation inducing a “glue” effect of the B_tg soil matrix, which could stabilize the soil structure and prevent recovery to initial conditions. These results provide clear evidence that on loessic materials, soil compaction due to logging operations leads to modifications in both physical (bulk density, total porosity) and mechanical (penetration resistance and consolidation pressure) soil properties.     

Effects of tillage systems on compaction and crop yield of Albic Luvisol in Croatia

This four-year experiment was conducted in north-west Slavonia (agricultural area of Croatia) to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on compaction of silty loam soil (Albic Luvisol). The compared tillage systems were: (1) conventional tillage (CT), (2) conservation tillage (CM), (3) no-tillage system (NT), and the crop rotation was corn (Zea mays L.) – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – corn – winter wheat. For detecting the soil compaction, bulk density and penetration resistance were measured during the growing seasons. In all seasons and tillage systems, the bulk density and penetration resistance increased with depth and the greatest increase from surface to the deepest layer in average was observed at CT system. The bulk density and penetration resistance increased at all tillage systems during the experiment, but the greatest increase was also observed at CT system. The greatest bulk density (1.66 Mg m⁻³) and the greatest increase of 6.4% were observed at CT system in the layer 30–35 cm. In the first season, the bulk density was the greatest at NT system, but during the experiment the lowest average increase of 1.9% was observed at this system. The greatest penetration resistance of all measurements (5.9 MPa) was observed in the last season at CT system in depth of 40 cm. The lowest average increase of penetration resistance 11.4% was also observed at NT system. The highest yield of corn in the first season was achieved with CT system while in other seasons the highest yield of winter wheat and corn was achieved with CM system.