Wheel loaders are fundamental construction equipment to assist handling of bulk material e.g. gravel and stones. During digging operations, it withstands forces that are both large and very complicated to predict. Moreover, it is very expensive to develop prototypes of wheel loader for verification. Consequently, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) was introduced for gravel modeling a couple of years ago to enable prediction of these forces. The gravel model is connected with a Multibody System (MBS) model of the wheel loader, in this thesis a Volvo L180G. The co-simulation of these two systems is a very computer intensive operation and hence, it is important to investigate which parameters that have the largest influence on the simulation results. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the simulation sensitivity with respect to co-simulation communication interval, collision detection interval and gravel normal stiffness.The simulation results are verified by comparison with measurement data from previous tests performed by Volvo CE. The simulations are compared to investigate the relevant parameters. The conclusion of this thesis is that DEM is a method that in a very good way can predict the draft forces during digging operations.

Esta Tesis de investigación estudia la propuesta de aplicación de un sistema de mejoramiento de suelos para un proyecto inmobiliario de nueve niveles que se proyecta ejecutar en el distrito de San Juan Bautista, en la región Loreto, la cual colinda con el distrito de Iquitos. Bajo esta premisa, se desarrolla la idea de cómo introducir un sistema de mejoramiento para suelos de baja resistencia, el cual reemplazará el sistema de cimentaciones profundas propuesto inicialmente, en el terreno del proyecto se realizó el estudio de suelos y se concluyó que las capas superficiales son de material orgánico, en la capa intermedia con alta potencia se clasifico a las arenas y finalmente se encontró arcilla dura a una profundidad promedio de 8 a 9 metros. A continuación se procedió a estudiar conceptualmente los diferentes tipos de cimentación profunda y sistemas de reforzamiento de suelos. Finalmente nos centramos en el sistema de Pilas de grava compactada, la cual ya registra eficientes antecedentes en diversos proyectos realizados en la ciudad de Lima, y en el norte del país. Es así, que debido a las características desfavorables de los suelos de la ciudad de San Juan Bautista, se optó a dar inicio con la realización del diseño, luego a la evaluación del proceso constructivo, el análisis de los recursos a emplear; siendo la etapa de exploración de canteras, el proceso más determinante para el inicio de la viabilidad del sistema en términos de diseño, costo y tiempo de ejecución. Finalmente se concluye que el sistema de Pilas de grava compactada tiene la capacidad de incrementar la presión admisible del suelo, y disminuir los costos de construcción de la cimentación. / This Research Thesis studies the proposal for the application of a soil improvement system for a nine-level real estate project that is planned to be executed in the San Juan Bautista district, in the Loreto region, which borders the Iquitos district. Under this premise, the idea of how to introduce an improvement system for highly compressible soils is developed, which will replace the system of deep foundations initially proposed, in the field of the project the soil study was carried out and it was concluded that the surface layers are of organic material, in the intermediate layer with high power the sands were classified and finally hard clay was found at an average depth of 8 to 9 meters. Next, the different types of deep foundations and soil reinforcement systems were conceptually studied. Finally, we focus on the system of Piles of compacted gravel, which already records efficient records in various projects carried out in the city of Lima, and in the north of the country. Thus, due to the unfavorable characteristics of the soils of the city of San Juan Bautista, it was decided to begin with the realization of the design, then to the evaluation of the construction process, the analysis of the resources to be used; being the quarry exploration stage, the most decisive process for the beginning of the viability of the system in terms of design, cost and execution time. Finally, it is concluded that the system of compacted gravel piles has the capacity to increase the admissible pressure of the soil, and decrease the construction costs of the foundation / Tesis