An Integrated Approach Using Tire and Soil Stresses to Predict Soil Compaction

The National Soil Dynamics Laboratory and Auburn University are developing tools and methods to help farmers make correct decisions about how to best avoid compacting their soil. Four areas of research are being integrated into an overall soil compaction model. These areas are the measurement of soil-tire interface stresses, the measurement of soil stresses in the soil profile, the development of constitutive stress-strain relationships for agricultural soils, and the development of analytical and finite element soil compaction models that can accurately predict the depth and degree of excessive soil compaction.