NRC Publications Archive Archives des publications du CNRC Proceedings of the Fifth Muskeg Research Conference For the publisher’s version, please access the DOI link below./ Pour consulter la version de l’éditeur, utilisez le lien DOI ci-dessous. Publisher’s version / Version de l'éditeur: https://doi.org/10.4224/40001142 Technical Memorandum (National Research Council of Canada. Associate Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics), 1959-03-04 NRC Publications Archive Record / Notice des Archives des publications du CNRC : https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=992ba7db-39e0-4f9a-ab13-9738cd2e9d20 https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=992ba7db-39e0-4f9a-ab13-9738cd2e9d20 Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/copyright READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. 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MECHANICS PROCEEDINGS OF THIF: FIFTH MUSKEG RESEARCH CONFERENCE 4 MARCH 1959 Ottawa JlJn9 1959 FOREWORD This is a record of the Fifth Annual Musken Research Conference which was held in the ~griculturalBuildin of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg on & Maroh 1959. The Conferenoe was sponsored by the Assoc iate Committee on Soil and Snow Meohanics of the National Research Council. Topios considered inolude road aonstruct ion over organic terrain, dstermina t ion of engineering properties of the organia material, vehicles and traff ioability, and drainage. A list of those in attendance ia included aa Appendix A of these proceedings* In the morning session, under the chairmanship of Dr. New. Radforth, five papers were presented and two short films were shown. 'Chairman of the afternoon session was W.C. Harrison; two papers were presented, followed by a general discussion period directed by Dr. NOW. Radforth. ( ti ) TABLE OF CONTENTS MORN MG SESSION Tntroduotory Remarks ...............~.......~...........1 Seotion 1 - Reports 1. An outline of current muskeg research in Canada by Jean Eve1 ...................... 2 Section 2 - Mechanical Properties; Road Construction 1. Summary of "The principle of preconsolidation in highway construction over muskeg" by CeO. Brawner .~...~~~.~.~....~~.~~~.~~~~~~13 2. Relating the engineering propertlea of muskeg to some problems of fill construction by K.O. Anderson and R.A. Hemstock ........'.. 16 3. An evaluation of same roads over muskeg in northern Ontario by Ivan C . MaoFarlane ...... 26 Seotlon 3 - Vehicles and Traffiaability 1. Vehicle mobility performanoe in muskeg: A second report by JoGa Thmson ............... 31 2. Introduotory remarks to film - Field trials of muskeg transport vehicle in Alberta ...... 55 AFTERNOON SESSION Section 4 - Forestry Drainage 1. Aspeots of muskeg as it affects the forestry industry by W.S. Carlson .................... 58 2. Aspects of ditching and drainage teohniques in muskeg areas by J.A. Cuthbertson ......... 62 Seotion 5 .General DiscussSon ......................... 75 Appendix A - List of those present at the Fifth Muskeg Research Conference ................ 79 MORN INQ SESSION INTRODTJC TORY REMARKS Following registration, Dr. NOW. Radf orth introduced Dean A.E. Maadonald of the Faculty of Engineering and Arohiteature of the University of Manitoba. Dean Maadonald briefly weloomed delegates to the Conferenae on behalf of the University. He expressed the hope that they would find the deliberations to be helpful and that they would return at some future date. Dr. Radforth then explained the sponsorship of the Conferenae, desoribing the history and functions of the Assoaiate Committee on Soil and Snow Meohanias and of the Muskeg Suboommittee. A telegram from Mr. R.F. Legget, Chairman of the Assoaiate Committee was read, in which he expressed his regret at not being able to be present. Delegates attending the Conf'erenoe were invited to atand giving their name and their affiliation. Dr. Radf orth then introduaed the Searetary of the Muskeg Suboommittee, Mr. 1.C MaaFarlane, who announced the lunaheon arrangements and the. availability of muakeg literature REPORTS 1. AN OUTLINE OF CURRENT iVmSKEG RESEARCH IN CANADA- Jean Eve1 McMaster University INTRODUCTION Researoh on organio terrain, begun in l9M and sponsored by the National Research Council and the Defence Research Board has brought to light many problems shared by those involved in construction, access, exploration or exploitat ion in muskeg areas. Many of these problems would not have been solved had it not been for sheer determination to overoome the muskeg factor. In oases where it has not been possible to simply abandon operations because of a seemingly invincible barrier, the problem has been faced and often oolved by the application of basio principles of science and engineering. The design of this report on current muskeg research in Canada is to reflect accrued information from representatives of organizations known to have had problems with muskeg in the pursuit of their interests in industry, transportation, construct ion and agriculture. It was hoped that information ao obtained might be integrated into a report that could serve as a souroe of referenoe for others with similar problems in the field and bring to light further problems. Also, from this, it was thought that trends for future research would become more apparent. EXPLORATION The petroleum industry makes expressive use of the term "explorationn in its survey activities preceding the establishment of produoing wells. This same term could well be used to convey the primary approach to any muskeg study that involvea major development. Control of costs, best design, and optimum opera- tional requirements can only be met if they all pertain to a complete understanding of the precise terrain in which the develop- ment is to proceed. Where there has been success in muskeg, as defined by these terms, it would be instructive to examine whether this fundamental exploration has been adequately carried out . In gathering information for this report it has been encouraging to find that some use is being made of what has become knovm as the Radforth Classification System in dealing with muskeg. While in some instances it may not be applied with all the exactness it intends, the principles of ooverage recog- nition and interpretation are being applied with success. In other words, it has been found that this system can be utilized to good advantage in field or aerial interpretation and when used, the results have been dependable and facilitate operations econo- mically. The petroleum industry has found in its exploration programs that much information basic to the establishment of wellsites can be obtained from aerial photographs. In beiq able to interpret ground conditions even generally from aerial photographs, much time and expense can be eliminated by choosing the shortest possible route that, at the same time, will avoid problems in muskeg areas. If muskeg areas cannot be avoided, the best routes can be chosen across the muskeg by the use of the classification system. Organizations such as Spartan Air Services Limited do their exploration work with the applioation of the prinoiples of the classification system for interpretation of muskeg areaa. Inter- pretation is done with the aid of aerial photographs, usually taken on scales between 1,000 and 3,000 feet to 1 inah. Muskegs and areas of undesirable topography are by-passed in the selection of the main route and alternate routes also are chosen, Field investigations of seleated looations are then made for the identifi- cation of seasonal drainage or water table levels, depth and nature of organic material to mineral soil type and the classifioation of muskeg. Additional interpretive information derived through a knmledge of cover and topography can be supplied about trafficability, bearing strength, route deviation and Improvement requirements. CONSTRUCTION Development in or on muskeg already involves many kinds of construct ion, among these being establishment of tank farms, railways, hydro pylons, roads and foundations for agricultural development, eta. At this stage in our development, the most pressing needs are associated with access, and chiefly, here, in the construction of highways. Second to access, construction measures such as housing for men and supplies as might be done by the Air Force and other services, must be mentioned. That aomtnunities are usually established on mineral soils or rock foundation does not suggest escape from difficulty, for it is often the aase in the north that muskeg inter- feres in the communications problem. Where highways are concerned, two genaral fields of in- terest were defined in the inquiries made for this report. One is the construction of highways, frequently provincial under- takings, the other is the developl~lontof access roads for pulp and paper or petroleum industries. One source of information on high- ways deals with conatr-uction as it applies in tho Yukon* The other pertains to road building in northern Ontario. Solutions to the problems involved may well be of valuo to many. Owing to the great variability of muskegs in northern Ontario and to the high standards and economic considerations of modern highways, %he Ontario Department of Highways makes unusually detailed studies of areas in order to ensure the satisfactory performance of a road surface.