Mobile Soil-tire Interface Measurement System

An electronic data acquisition system was developed to measure and record soil-tire interface pressures of a rubber-tired skidder during skidding conditions. Calibration of the system was performed in the laboratory using an Instron Universal Testing Instrument, a section of a Firestone 23.1-26 Forestry Special tire, and a cylindrical soil bin. Field tests using Firestone 23.1-26 Forestry Special tires were run to measure peak soil-tire interface pressure under different tire inflation pressures and dynamic loads. Measured peak soil-tire interface pressures ranged from 3.5 to 12.5 times the inflation pressure of the rubber tires.