Methods of Obtaining Soil Strength Data for Modelling Vehicle Trafficability on Beaches

摘要

Estimates of vehicle mobility or trafficability over beaches are useful for the planning of amphibious operations. If the bearing capacity of a beach is too small, then beach matting, which is heavy and bulky, needs to be transported. If the bearing capacity is large enough then the matting can be left behind, saving space and time. Bearing capacity also effects the speed at which vehicles can transit the beach. A widely used model for predicting mobility is the NATO Reference Mobility Model, version II, (NRMM II). The most critical parameter for mobility forecasts in this and similar models is sediment strength as determined by the cone index, CI, which is the resistance to penetration by soil of a standard shaped cone in pounds per square inch. The methods of obtaining CI are reviewed in this report. The best way is to use a cone penetrometer directly, but there are other less direct methods available and these are discussed.