Traffic-induced changes and processes in forest road aggregate particle-size distributions

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Abstract

Traffic can alter forest road aggregate material in various ways, such as by crushing, mixing it with subgrade material, and sweeping large-size, loose particles (gravel) toward the outside of the road. Understanding the changes and physical processes of the aggregate is essential to mitigate sediment production from forest roads and reduce road maintenance efforts. We compared the particle-size distributions of forest road aggregate from the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, USA in three vertical layers (upper, middle, and bottom of the road aggregate), three horizontal locations (tire track, shoulder, and half-way between them), and three traffic uses (none, light (no logging vehicles), and heavy (logging vehicles and equipment)) using Tukey's multiple comparison test. Light traffic appears to cause aggregate crushing where vehicle tires passed and caused sweeping on the road surface. Heavy traffic caused aggregate crushing at all vertical and horizontal locations, and subgrade mixing with the bottom layer at the shoulder location. Logging vehicles and heavy equipment with wide axles drove on the shoulder and exerted enough stress to cause subgrade mixing. These results can help identify the sediment source and define adequate mitigation measures to reduce sediment production from forest roads and reduce road maintenance efforts by providing information for best management practices.

Figures

  • Figure 1. Sorted surfacing material on forest road. Left is the tire track with a coin with a diameter of 24 mm on it, and right is the shoulder.
  • Figure 2. Location of the study plots on the White Pine roads in the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho. The map was modified from the 1:24,000 US topographic map (West Dennis, Idaho; 7.5-min quadrangle map) with orthoimage [32]. N, L, and H indicate the plot locations on no, light, and heavy traffic use roads. The N was used for log-hauls after collecting the samples, and the H, before collecting the samples in this image. White lines without a border indicate a forest road network; the white line with borders at the right side indicates the Idaho state highway 6; and blue lines indicate streams.
  • Table 1. Comparison of dry densities 1 (Mg m−3) of forest road aggregate from different horizontal locations and traffic uses.
  • Figure 3. Sampling locations within a forest road cross section. The abbreviations indicate vertical layer and horizontal location of samples. U: upper; M: middle; B: bottom; T: tire track; S: shoulder; I: in-between.
  • Figure 4. Hardin’s Breakage Potential (Bp): (a) particle-size distribution with Bp of 186.77; and (b) particle-size distribution with Bp of 140.77. The unit of Bp is %·log (mm). Higher Bp value represents a particle-size distribution with coarser particles.
  • Table 2. No traffic road particle-size distributions from the vertical and horizontal locations using the breakage potential (Bp) method. The values are average Bp with standard deviation in parentheses. The unit of Bp is % log (mm).
  • Table 3. Light traffic road particle-size distributions from the vertical and horizontal locations using the breakage potential (Bp) method. The values are average Bp with standard deviation in parentheses. The unit of Bp is %·log (mm).
  • Table 4. Heavy traffic road particle-size distributions from the vertical and horizontal locations using the breakage potential (Bp) method. The values are average Bp with standard deviation in parentheses. The unit of Bp is %·log (mm).

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APA

Rhee, H., Fridley, J., & Page-Dumroese, D. (2018). Traffic-induced changes and processes in forest road aggregate particle-size distributions. Forests, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/f9040181

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