Wheel-Track comparison in terms of soil compaction and rut depth in the soil bin

Tracks have advantages over wheels, part of which is related to the traction performance of the machine, and the other part is associated with reducing soil compaction. In this study, an experimental comparison of wheel and track in terms of vertical soil stress and vertical deformation of the soil during multi-passes has been made. This study used two-wheel and track testers in a loam-clay soil bin environment. The amount of vertical stress in the soils at 8, 16, and 24 cm depths was measured and recorded using a stress measuring system during wheel (track) multi-passes at five levels 1, 3, 7, 15, and 20. Also, the amount of vertical rut depth was measured during the movement of wheel and track passes. The most significant advantage of the track over the wheel on soil compaction occurred at depths of less than 10 cm, and the amount of vertical stress in the soil was only about 40% of the wheel. At greater depths, the wheel and the track were almost the same creating stress, so that at a depth of more than 24 cm, more than 90%, the vertical stress under the wheel and the track were similar. The vertical deformation of the soil showed a significant difference between the wheel's performance and the track. The amount of soil rut depth due to the passage of the track at all levels of the pass number did not exceed 45% of rut depth due to wheel passage.