| The oil sand surface beneath ultra class mining equipment such as an in-pit crusher deforms highly due to the combined effect of crusher weight, operational vibrations and cyclic loading while crushing material during operation. These loading conditions result in ground deformation, cyclically changing the geotechnical response of the ground. An improved study of equipment-ground interaction is required to better understand the deterioration of ground conditions beneath such equipment for adequate operation.;A shape factor was determined considering the depth of loading influence response and the size of the plates. Based on the force-deformation response, an empirical correlation was discerned relating load, deformation and shape factor. This correlation allows prediction of oil sand deformation under nominal loading by a tracked machine during in-pit positioning prior to operation. Also, an empirical relationship was estimated between oil sand stiffness and number of loading cycles. This relationship allows prediction of the oil sand deformation during cyclic loading by the same equipment.;A simple cyclic plate load test was conducted for 3 rectangular plates of varying size and a circular plate on oil sand and sand to investigate the effect of footprint size and shape on ground response. Combinations of 4 frequencies and 4 load levels were applied during the tests to correlate force-deformation characteristics by loading frequency and footprint shape. |
