Tsiolkovsky
Mechanical
I'm currently investigating a dozer/rock-clearer used in the mines to clear blast ore. The problem is that the slope condition in the working area is not only downhill but tilting downwards to the side as-well. Even if the dozer can resist sliding forward it may still have a dangerous tendency to "yaw" or "slip" to the side. After sliding, the machine sustains heavy knocks and with no damping systems whatsoever, this results in part failures. Even worse, the sliding machine can take out a mine ceiling supporting column or "stick". It may also harm nearby miners.
Anyhow, this problem must be solved by increasing traction. One thing that I noticed particularly were the current track shoes. They have triple grouser bars. Now the theory behind grousers is that they deform the ground into the grouser profile and the tracks compressive strength on the flanks of the grousers is transferred into internal shear stress within the soil itself (see Attachment 1). So now the traction derives from the soils ability to withstand its own shearing. This principle only works if the ground is deformed around the grouser bar. The problem arises in the surface condition in the mines. Its basically hard substrate rock with a thin covering of fine, dry and low shear strength mine "silt". So the hard underlying rock does not deform. And even if its thin covering of silt does deform (in other words the grousers manages to "bite in" the silt), its such a thin layer with poor shear resistance and with a poor shear resisting shear silt/hard rock interface (see Attachment 2).
An actual picture of the tracks and the hard substrate with the fine silt covering is seen in Attachment 3 and Attachment 4 (Notice the grousers inability to bite in the surface)..
Ultimately my conclusion is that the grouser principle counts for nothing on this surface condition and a new track shoe design must be utilized.
I ultimately need your opinions on:
1) Is my ultimate conclusion correct? (That the grousers are ineffective on this surface condition)
2) If my conclusion is correct, to what degree can a new track shoe design offer better traction?
3) Is this problem worth investigating further with a solution needed? (My boss wasn't too concerned about this problem mainly because solution finding was not heavily stressed in my job description, but I'm increasingly obsessed with a solution even willing to experiment and test from my own pocket to a viable new track shoe design)
Also note that the environment contains residual Chrome particles which abrade everything and anything in their path (in-case you're wondering about using rubber shoe attachments).
Any further comments or ingenious solutions are welcome!
Anyhow, this problem must be solved by increasing traction. One thing that I noticed particularly were the current track shoes. They have triple grouser bars. Now the theory behind grousers is that they deform the ground into the grouser profile and the tracks compressive strength on the flanks of the grousers is transferred into internal shear stress within the soil itself (see Attachment 1). So now the traction derives from the soils ability to withstand its own shearing. This principle only works if the ground is deformed around the grouser bar. The problem arises in the surface condition in the mines. Its basically hard substrate rock with a thin covering of fine, dry and low shear strength mine "silt". So the hard underlying rock does not deform. And even if its thin covering of silt does deform (in other words the grousers manages to "bite in" the silt), its such a thin layer with poor shear resistance and with a poor shear resisting shear silt/hard rock interface (see Attachment 2).
An actual picture of the tracks and the hard substrate with the fine silt covering is seen in Attachment 3 and Attachment 4 (Notice the grousers inability to bite in the surface)..
Ultimately my conclusion is that the grouser principle counts for nothing on this surface condition and a new track shoe design must be utilized.
I ultimately need your opinions on:
1) Is my ultimate conclusion correct? (That the grousers are ineffective on this surface condition)
2) If my conclusion is correct, to what degree can a new track shoe design offer better traction?
3) Is this problem worth investigating further with a solution needed? (My boss wasn't too concerned about this problem mainly because solution finding was not heavily stressed in my job description, but I'm increasingly obsessed with a solution even willing to experiment and test from my own pocket to a viable new track shoe design)
Also note that the environment contains residual Chrome particles which abrade everything and anything in their path (in-case you're wondering about using rubber shoe attachments).
Any further comments or ingenious solutions are welcome!
