The evaluation of trafficability of a tracked mining vehicle for manganese nodule mining is one important aspect of the complete mining system. A shear stress - shear displacement relationship is proposed for deep sea soils and deep sea soil imitate (bentonite) for the calculation of the traction potential force of a tracked vehicle. Static sinkage calculation and sinkage with respect to time are briefly outlined as well as ground failure assessment. With the main components of evaluation of trafficability, the main parameters of the tracked vehicle and the values describing a layered soil, some aspects of traction potential force, resistance forces and vehicle speed are briefly simulated. Furthermore an evaluation of the relation of soil contact pressure due to vehicle weight and ultimate bearing capacity is briefly outlined.
Evaluation of trafficability for tracked vehicles for manganese nodule mining is essential. A lot of research work has been done with respect to the components of manganese nodule mining systems as well as to the behavior of the complete systems. Also in the field of evaluation of trafficability of the deep sea soil and optimization of traction potential of tracked vehicles much work has been done (e.g. Bode, 1991, Kim, 2005, Dörfler,1995). The most shear stress shear displacement functions have been proposed for the terrestrial field of terramechanics so far. Therefore a shear stress shear displacement relations has been developed for deep sea soil based on deep sea soil measurements and bentonite soil measurements (Schulte, 2003). With further improvements, this function gives grids for the experimental behaviour of track segment and shear ring with good approximation. With a basic correction function proposed here shear ring measurements can be adapted to track segment measurements and further be used for traction potential calculation.
