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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/20845| Title: | Evaluation of soil strength of unsurfaced forward-area airfields by use of ground vehicles |
| Authors: | Hammitt, George M. |
| Keywords: | Airfields Military vehicles Mobility Soil strength Soil mechanics Unsurfaced airfields Trafficability |
| Publisher: | U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Description: | Miscellaneous Paper Abstract: This report describes a method for rapidly determining the soil strength at forward-area airfields. Through the use of dimensionless ground mobility parameters developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, soil strength indications arc determined by measuring rut depths created by traffic of standard military ground vehicles. This method enables reasonably accurate assessment of soil strength by personnel without special training and without the use of special instruments. If the soil strength existing in the forward areas is known, predictions can be made concerning the ability of a particular site to sustain specific aircraft traffic. Initially, an office study was conducted that established the potential of such a method. Then limited field verification tests were conducted with four standard military ground vehicles, i.e. a 1/4-ton M151, a 3/4-ton M37, a 2-1/2-ton M35A1, and a 5-ton M55, operated on a prepared unsurfaced heavy clay subgrade with a strength of approximately 2 CBR. First-pass rut depths were measured for each vehicle operated empty and for all but the M55 with maximum cross~country loading. The results of this testing indicated the feasibility of predicting soil strength based on one-pass rut depth caused by military ground vehicles. This method can be used to predict the ability of a particular forward-area airfield to sustain specific small aircraft traffic. It is recommended that further studies include operations of aircraft from actual landing sites on both clay and sand. |
| Rights: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/20845 |
| Appears in Collections: | Miscellaneous Paper |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP-S-70-14.pdf | 22.06 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |