Vehicle traffic-induced subsoil compaction has negative influences on soil functions and ecosystems, which may cause the degradation of farmland. Rubber tracks are recommended for use on modern large agricultural vehicles due to its low ground pressure as compared to tyres. However, few studies have discussed the potential of the rubber tracks to reduce subsoil stress. In this study, we investigated the magnitude and distribution of soil stress below a rubber track and a tyre for a range of traffic velocities. The vertical and horizontal soil stresses were measured under the centrelines of the rubber track and tyre paths at a depth of 0.35 m by transducers buried in the soil. The SoilFlex model was adopted to simulate soil stress in the soil profile. Vertical stress was distributed with one peak under the tyre and multiple peaks under the rubber track. Horizontal stress exhibited one peak before and one peak after the passing of the axle. The maximum vertical and horizontal stresses were approximately 3.4- and 2.0-times higher, respectively, under the tyre than under the rubber track, indicating greater effectiveness of the rubber track in reducing the vertical stress than reducing horizontal stress. Both vertical and horizontal stresses presented a downward trend as the vehicle velocity increased.

中文翻译：

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现代联合收割机下方的垂直和水平土壤应力：测量和建模

车辆交通引起的底土压实对土壤功能和生态系统产生负面影响，可能导致农田退化。由于与轮胎相比，橡胶履带的地面压力低，因此建议在现代大型农用车辆上使用橡胶履带。然而，很少有研究讨论橡胶履带减少地下应力的潜力。在这项研究中，我们调查了橡胶履带和轮胎下方不同交通速度下土壤应力的大小和分布。通过埋在土壤中的传感器在 0.35 m 深度的橡胶履带和轮胎路径的中心线下测量垂直和水平土壤应力。采用 SoilFlex 模型模拟土壤剖面中的土壤应力。垂直应力分布在轮胎下方有一个峰值，橡胶履带下方有多个峰值。水平应力在过轴前出现一个峰值，在过轴后出现一个峰值。轮胎下方的最大垂直应力和水平应力分别是橡胶履带下方的约 3.4 倍和 2.0 倍，这表明橡胶履带在降低垂直应力方面比降低水平应力更有效。随着车辆速度的增加，垂直和水平应力均呈现下降趋势。表明橡胶履带在降低垂直应力方面比降低水平应力更有效。随着车辆速度的增加，垂直和水平应力均呈现下降趋势。表明橡胶履带在降低垂直应力方面比降低水平应力更有效。随着车辆速度的增加，垂直和水平应力均呈现下降趋势。