PRESSURE TRANSMISSION BENEATH WHEELS IN SOILS ON THE EYRE PENINSULA OF SOUTH-AUSTRALIA

Pressure transmission beneath the wheels of moving agricultural vehicles was measured in two soils of economic importance on the Eyre peninsula of South Australia. The vertical component of soil pressure was found to decrease more rapidly with depth than predicted by the equation usually used in soil mechanics. Equations are proposed which provide much better descriptions of the experimental data. The results are discussed in terms of detailed measurements of soil penetrometer resistance, bulk density and water retention characteristics.