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Interaction between rigid and flexible track-grouser systems with a clay soil is examined in order to obtain a better understanding of the manner in which energy is transferred and dissipated in the bearing soil substrate. Analytical framework is developed for the establishment of the kind of mechanisms involved in this interaction with a view to obtaining a rational prediction of track-soil performance. / The method of visioplasticity is used to determine the specific participants contributing to the expenditure of energy at different soil levels beneath a simple representative multiple grouser element. Subsoil reponse behaviour and dissipated energy components are investigated for different grouser shapes, spacings, displacements, and flexibility boundary conditions. / A predictive model is established for the off-road track performance prediction based on the principle of energy conservation for the entire track/grouser-soil system. This energetic model provides successful predictions which are in good agreement with the experimentally measured performance of a full track model at various degrees of slip.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Paul Mayne, Committee Member ; James Tsai, Committee Member ; Glenn Rix, Committee Member ; David Frost, Committee Member ; Carlos Santamarina, Committee Chair.

It is the purpose of this thesis to review, and to evaluate to a degree, some of the current theories dealing with the effects of vibrations on foundations in contact with the earth. Basic parameters, the means of evaluating them, and their applications are discussed. Conditions leading to vibration and shock problems, the significance of these problems and various correctional methods are presented. The effects of vibrations on foundations, with particular regard to settlement, are considered by means of modifications to the soil characteristics as observed by other writers. Long term consolidation tests were carried out on undisturbed and remolded clay samples, both vibrated and unvibrated. These tests were conducted in order to secure a comparison between actual test results and the conclusions given by the above theory, for what may be considered an extreme case. Cohesive soil is known to be much less sensitive to vibration than cohesionless soil, thus very little work has been done on it in this regard. The degree of independence of cohesionless soil to vibration was investigated within the limits of these tests. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate