Earthmoving Operations under Winter Conditions: A Reference Manual (Proizvodstvo Zemlyanykh Rabot v Zimnikh Usloviyakh)

• Main Authors: Cherkashin,V. A., Gorbanev,V. P.
• Other Authors: ARMY FOREIGN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER CHARLOTTESVILLE VA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1971
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; (*CONSTRUCTION; *ARCTIC REGIONS); PERMAFROST; SOIL MECHANICS; PROTECTIVE TREATMENTS; EXPLOSIVES; USSR; FREEZING; SOILS; TRANSLATIONS; Arctic; Rabot; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0742055; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0742055

The most economical procedure for winter earthmoving operations is to prepare the soil in the Fall to prevent it from freezing. This is done by deep plowing, erecting snow fences or other means of insulating the soil. When such preparation is impossible, mechanical loosening of the frozen layer is the best technique, tractor-mounted diesel hammers the most practical equipment. Under special circumstances (availability of cheap power, restriction on the use of explosives, etc.) thawing may be done with steam, hot water or electric apparatus, but it is usually the most expensive technique. In addition to special procedures for handling frozen soil, all equipment and personnel are subject to greater stress under winter conditions. Protective measures must be taken to prevent injuries and damage. When steam or hydraulic methods are used, soil must be handled rapidly before it refreezes. (Author) Trans. from Nauchno-Issledovatelskii Institut Organizatsii, Mekhanizatsii i Tekhnicheskoi Pomoshchi Stroitelstvu, Moscow, Handbook series (USSR) 1961, by Eric Peabody.