A test of normal tire pressure and reduced tire pressure on forest roads: sedimentation effects

Foltz, R.B.; Burroughs, E.R., Jr. 1991. A test of normal tire pressure and reduced tire pressure on forest roads: sedimentation effects. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Pub. 09-91, Proceedings of the 1991 Conference, Forestry and Environment, Engineering Solutions, New Orleans, LA, June 5-6, 1991.

Keywords: road, tire pressure

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Abstract: Two 30-m forest road sections were bladed and used to measure sediment yield from a 31,300 kg GVW logging truck using normal (655 kPa) tire pressure on one section and reduced (483 kPa for steering axle and 345 kPa elsewhere) tire pressure on the other. Each insloped road treatment area was divided lengthwise into two plots 30 m long by 1.74 m wide to define one wheel track. Three simulated rainstorms at a rate of 50 mm/hour for 30 minutes each were applied to each plot before truck travel, and three more were applied after truck travel. The tire pressure ranged from 1.07 times (dry run) to 2.20 times (wet run) for the three rainfall applications, with an average value of 1.60. The similar ratio for sediment concentration ranged from 1.31 times (dry run ) to 2.31 times (very wet run) for the three rainfall applications, with an average value of 1.71. These increases in sediment yield and sediment concentration were caused by more concentrated flow, with more erosive power, in the deeper ruts formed in the normal tire pressure treatment area. Soil moisture contents for three of the four plots were greater than the optimum for compaction, but the higher ground pressures on the normal tire pressure treatment area caused deeper rutting while the road surface of the reduced tire pressure treatment area had only minor ruts. These tests clearly indicate that the use of reduced tire pressure has a significant potential to reduce adverse impacts on water quality.

Moscow FSL publication no. 1991d