Field Measurements of In-Situ Equipment Track Pressure and Working Platform Deformation Using Earth Pressure Cells and Fiber Optics-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

A contractor describes field tests measuring the ground pressures and settlements beneath a large CFA drilling rig. Industry guidelines and manufacturer manuals often predict very high track pressures, raising questions about whether these values reflect actual machine behavior. Tests used conventional earth-pressure cells and UC Berkeley fiber-optic sensors while the rig applied increasing pull forces, comparing bare ground, steel plates, and crane mats.<br /><br />Measurements showed peak pressure and settlement near the center of the tracks—not at their front—and broadly supported each other. Steel plates made little difference compared with bare ground, while crane mats reduced track pressures by roughly half. Fiber optics also detected a deep layer of very soft clay.<br /><br />The speaker concludes that current industry models may not accurately represent real loading, and that fiber optics could help improve measurement. For platform assessments, contractors should investigate soils beneath the working platform: a plate-load test alone may not reveal deeper weak layers. He urges the industry to question existing assumptions and improve guidance.

Keywords

CFA drilling rig

track pressures

fiber-optic sensors

crane mats

ground settlement