Sung-Ha Baek, Joonyoung Kim
Journal of Terramechanics, Volume 85, 2019, Pages 27-37, ISSN 0022-4898,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jterra.2019.07.002.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022489818301666)
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the applicability of the 1g similitude law to the physical modeling of soil-track interaction. Model track experiments were performed using four physically modeled soil-track systems with different geometric scale factors, under three different relative densities of the model ground. Based on the modeling of the model technique, the results of the physical models were compared in terms of the largest physical model scale. The soil-track interaction behaviors showed similar tendencies on the whole, but slight differences were also observed depending on the geometric scale factor. Such differences, however, were not significant compared to the differences in relation to other soil-structure interaction problems. Moreover, considering that the shearing action on the soil-track interface is a large replica of the shearing process in the direct shear tests of the soil, the differences among the physical models were attributed to the specimen size effect observed in the direct shear test of the soil, rather than to the similitude relationships. Therefore, it can be concluded that the 1g similitude law can be applied to the assessment of the soil-track interaction behavior, provided that the mechanical boundary restraint of the shearing action on the soil-track interface is properly accounted for.
Keywords: Soil-track interaction; Physical modeling; Similitude law; Modeling of the model technique; Off-road tracked vehicle