Pressure allocation on contact areas
For the design of the contact surface pressure at the contact areas of wheel-based forestry machines and the ground, a test bench was developed. It allows to apply different loads to individual tires. Originally developed for the design of forest tires, it has repeatedly been used successfully for measuring tires of other dimensions (for example, truck tires). The recording of the contact surface pressure is carried out with the aid of foil sensors. The tire is either pressed directly onto it or the foil sensors are placed under a separating medium (20 cm sand layer). The former variant characterizes the transfer of pressure to an undeformable surface (only the positive profile rests on the ground). The second variant shows a section through the pressure bulb under the tire. Due to the sand layer, the tire also supports itself via the negative profile, as usual on a deformable surface (this is not intended to simulate a specific type of soil!).
Test bench to measure the contact surface pressure under single tires (wheel load simulator)
Bogie axles and other suspension variants
In order to be able to measure the pressure distribution under bogie axles (with mounted tracks), a new test bench was developed. With this test bench, the wheelbase can be changed. Further, other chassis variations can be measured in addition to wheel-based undercarriages. The pressure distribution is again recorded with foil sensors whose position can be varied under the "chassis".
Test bench to measure the contact surface pressure under bogie axles and non-wheel-based chassis