Modeling of the effect of sliding propellers on the stability of forest vehicles when maneuvering on low-bearing slopes

The relevance of the study is due to the need to minimize the degradation of low-bearing forest soils under increasing loads from modern wheeled vehicles, especially in conditions of difficult terrain and waterlogging. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive study of the interaction of wheeled forest vehicles with wet, low-bearing soils on slopes, taking into account the critical factor of engine stalling. To achieve this, a mathematical model has been developed that establishes the relationship between skidding, track formation and angular deviations of the machine. As a result of the simulation, it was found that even at a low level of slipping (δ = 0.02), the shear strength of the soil decreases catastrophically – from 18.54 kPa to 7.49 kPa, which is a drop of 60%. With an increase in soil moisture to the yield point (W = 41%), its strength additionally decreases by 50%. It is determined that the combined effect of slipping and waterlogging leads to a decrease in shear resistance to critical values of 3-3.5 kPa. Under these conditions, the external pressure on the ground should not exceed 10-15 kPa. Calculations have shown that the permissible maneuvering angle on steep slopes (> 20 °) with heavy skidding should not exceed 10-15 °, and on gentle slopes with minimal skidding can reach 20-25 °. The results obtained prove that skidding is a determining factor in the degradation of low-bearing soils and should be a key parameter in planning logging operations to minimize environmental damage.