Classification of slopes with thawing soils according to the geotechnical conditions of their interaction with the forest machine movers

Gradual depletion of stocks of ripe and overgrown forests in accessible forests necessitates the development of less accessible woodlands. Most of the forest fund in the Russian Federation is located in permafrost zone. The forests of the cryolithic zone, as well as the forests on the slopes of mountains and hills, are considered the most vulnerable ones in ecological terms. A significant part of the forests in the cryolithic zone is located on inconvenient terrain that is on the slopes of mountains and hills. But effective forest exploitation of such forests is important. Based on the particular complexity of work planning in the conditions under consideration, both from the point of view of operational and environmental efficiency, scientifically based methodological support for decision-making process is needed including the choice of machinery and equipment and the scheme of a specific cutting area exploitation. The article substantiates the classification of soil strength and its compliance with geotechnical conditions of logging on the slopes with thawing soils. The classification allows us to assess the operability of the skidding track (technological corridor) and its effectiveness when using various forest machines and skidding systems.

forests on slopes, logging operations, skidding, soils, forests on permafrost