Influence of Soil Surface Coverage on Soil Deformation by a Traveling Wheel

A model roller was traveled repeatedly along a soil bin with low traveling slip under 3 different coverage conditions; uncovered, and covered by a 1-mm or 3-mm thick rubber sheet. Soil displacement during each traveling was recorded by taking series of pictures through the transparent acrylic soil bin wall and application of image processing. Soil surface coverage affects the size and shape of the soil displacement trajectory for each travel. The soil particles at the deeper layers under coverage by the 3-mm sheet were displaced the furthermost downward among the 3 sets of conditions after only one travel. Coverage by a thick sheet significantly decreased the horizontal displacement of the soil during travel repetition, while that by the thin sheet had the opposite result. The results showed that consideration of soil surface coverage would help in the control of soil compaction.