RATIONAL EQUIPMENT SELECTION METHOD BASED ON SOIL-CONDITIONS

This paper presents a rational approach for evaluating a tractor dozer 's capability to excavate a given soil type. A number of empirical cha rts exist for equipment selection, and a complex formulation based on soil mechanics theory can be applied to predict dislodgement forces. H owever, there is no current method to compute dislodgement forces base d on soil properties and uses the results as a basis for equipment sel ection. This paper proposes a simplified model based on Coulomb latera l earth pressure theory to predict dislodgement forces for a dozer bla de geometry. The results from the simplified model analyses are verifi ed using the more complex existing theory. Based on the results, a set of practical decision charts are developed that can be used by the pr actitioner to estimate the tractor dozer's ability to excavate various types of soils. I provide an example of how the charts are used to se lect equipment given a set of natural soil conditions. The methodology proposed, if verified in field tests, could be used to develop a comp rehensive series of charts for various equipment models and soil types .