Method and apparatus for determining the performance of a compaction machine based on energy transfer

A method for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor, including the steps of:

• determining a ground speed of the compactor;
• determining a rolling resistance of the compactor;
• determining a propelling power of the compactor as a function of the ground speed and the rolling resistance, the propelling power corresponding to a level of compactive energy delivered by the compactor to the material;
• and
• determining the compaction performance of the material as a function of the propelling power of the compactor being below a predetermined value.

An apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor having a known compaction width, comprising:

• means for determining a lift thickness of the material;
• means for determining a rolling resistance of the compactor;
• means for determining a level of compactive energy delivered by the compactor to the material as a function of the compaction width, the lift thickness of the material, and the rolling resistance of the compactor;
• and
• means for determining the compaction performance of the material as a function of the compactive energy.

An apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor, comprising:

• means for determining a ground speed of the compactor;
• means for determining a rolling resistance of the compactor;
• means for determining a propelling power of the compactor as a function of the ground speed and the rolling resistance, the propelling power corresponding to a level of compactive energy delivered by the compactor to the material;
• and
• means for determining the compaction performance of the material as a function of the propelling power of the compactor being below a predetermined value.

An apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor having a known compaction width, comprising:

• a site coordinate determining system for determining a lift thickness of the material;
• a first sensor and a second sensor located at the input and the output, respectively, of a torque converter located on the compactor, the first and second sensors being adapted to sense a differential characteristic between the input and the output of the torque converter for determining a rolling resistance of the compactor;
• and
• a processor located on the compactor for determining a level of compactive energy delivered by the compactor to the material as a function of the compaction width, the lift thickness of the material, and the rolling resistance of the compactor, the processor being further adapted to determine the compaction performance of the material as a function of the compactive energy.

An apparatus for determining compaction performance of a material by a compactor, comprising:

• a ground speed sensor located on the compactor;
• a first sensor and a second sensor located at the input and the output, respectively, of a torque converter located on the compactor, the first and second sensors being adapted to sense a differential characteristic between the input and the output of the torque converter for determining a rolling resistance of the compactor;
• and
• a processor located on the compactor for determining a propelling power of the compactor as a function of the ground speed and the rolling resistance, the propelling power corresponding to a level of compactive energy delivered by the compactor to the material, the processor being further adapted to determine the compaction performance of the material as a function of the propelling power of the compactor being below a predetermined value.