CRAWLER BULLDOZERS AND THEIR USE AT QUARRIES, MINES

AND CONSTRUCTION SITES

Dr. Metin ÖZDOĞAN, İdeal Makine Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti., Ankara

Hakkı ÖZDOĞAN, Elektrik Elektronik Müh., İdeal Makine Danışmanlık Ltd.,

Şti., Ankara

Abstract:

A crawler bulldozer is a tractor having a heavy blade in front for pushing and
excavating (shoving) earth and debris, and a ripper in rear for pulling and
ripping the ground at mines, quarries and construction sites Bulldozer
application in mines, quarries and engineering projects are given.

Bulldozer blade types, cutting edges and edge bits are given. Ripper types and
ripper teeth and shank guards are illustrated. Definition of specific pushing
(cutting) power and specific production power are given and discussed. High
and low final drive bulldozers are discussed especislly with respect to ripping
power.

Key Words:

Crawler bulldozer, Pushing (Tractive) force, Blade types, Cutting edges and
edge tips, Specific pushing power, Rippers and ripper tips, Specific production
(earthmoving) power, High and low final drives.

INTRODUCTION

Crawler bulldozer is a continuous tracked tractor which is a heavy construction

equipment with a large, metal plate on its front known as blade. It is typically
equipped at the rear with a claw-like device known as ripper to loosen densly
compacted ground.

A dozer is a versatile piece of equipment which is often used in quarrying areas,

mine sites, heavy industry factories, military bases, farms, or any other
engineering projects that entail its use. Basically, it is a crawler equipment
which is used to push a large quantity of soil, rubble, sand, and any earth
material. It is used to particularly move aside quantities of earth which often
dumps at the construction site.
There are three types of dozer blades: straight blade, or S blade; universal blade,
or U blade; and an S-U combination blade. The S blade is primarily used for fine
grading while the U blade can carry more material than the latter one. And the
S-U combination blade is typically used in quarry sites. Another primary tool of
the dozer is the ripper. It is a claw-like device which can be seen at the back of a
dozer. As its name implies, it rips, breaks, and shatters hard, earth materials for
easy handling and transporting (Özdoğan & Özdoğan 2, 2020).

Type of terrain the dozer will be working; the specifics of the project; the size of
the workspace and the type of material to be moved are the major factors to be
considered in choosing a buldozer for the task.

The reason why the equipment buldozer exists are as follows. Tasks for
bulldozers: Clearing work site, Leveling the land, Opening roads on hillsides
and hard ground, Excavating the material and moving it in between 100 meters
distance. Spreading earth, Backfilling trenches, Maintaining haul roads (Kumar,
A, 2018a).

Figure 1. Crawler buldozer nomenclature (Hadi, 2019).

1. PUSHING FUNCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF TRACTOR THRU
BLADE (BLADE-DOZER PERFORMANCE)

Crawler bulldozer’s pushing function is realized by the blade which is one of the
two primary buldozer tools. The blade is described as a heavy, metal plate which
is securely attached on the front of the dozer. With this heavy, metal blade, the
dozer can do its work of pushing and shoving earth materials like soil, rubble,
sand, and debris.

Crawler tractor’s pushing or pulling power transmitted to the ground as a torque

is a function of traction between tracks and ground and weight of the tractor.
Naturally, it is also dependent of engine power and transmission of traction
force to the ground, (torque multiplication). Conventional and delta (high) track
drive systems also impact the traction (pulling and pushing) of crawler belt with
respect to ground surface, See Figure 2.

Delta Final Drive versus Conventional Final Drive:

Figure 2. Delta drive (high drive) and conventional drive for buldozer crawler tracks
(Kumar,V., 2017a)

Advantages of Delta Final Drive: Due to elevated engine and drive risk of getting dust
(mud) is less. Longer operation (life) time. Increased bulk clearance. It usually allows much
greater torque multiplication ie more tractive and pulling force generation. Servicing and
repair of drive system and track drive motor is comparatively easier.

Disadvantages of Delta Final Drive: Higher cost of manufacturing. More components,

longer crawler belt. The tracks have one additional place to bend. This implies additionbal
wear and tear on the tracks that can be very costly unless having delta final drive does justify.

Selection of Bulldozer Blade: Properly matching a tractor to a dozer blade is

essential in maximizing production. Blade selecting is a function of limitation
(specs) of the tractor, and the properties of the earth being moved like particle
size and shape, voids, water content etc.

1.1 Specific Blade Penetration and Pushing Power, (HP/m or kW/m))

A bulldozer’s pushing potential is measured by two Standard ratios: HP/m

(kW/m) and HP/m3 (kW/m3).

Ratio of tractor’s horse power to the cutting edge length of the blade, kW/m or
HP/m, can be termed as specific cutting and pushing power of the buldozer
similar to wheel loader’s specific bucket penetration power (Ozdogan &
Ozdogan, 2020a). This ratio, specific blade penetration power, provides an
indication of the ability of the blade to penetrate and obtain load. The higher this
ratio is the more agressive the blade attacks to the earth (Aksakkaf, 2003).

1.2 Specific Loose Earth Retaining and Moving Power of the Tractor,
(HP/m3 or kW/m3)

1.2. Blade-Dozer Performance (HP/m3 or kW/m3) (Specific Blade Pushing

Power)

Ratio of the tractor power to the loose cubic meter of material retained in front
of the blade. This ratio (HP/m3 or kW/m3) measures the blade’s ability to push a
load. A higher HP/m3 (kW/m3) ratio implies that the buldozer can push a load at
a greater speed, (Aksakkaf, 2003).

2. BULDOZER BLADES, CUTTING EDGES, END BITS AND

ADJUSTMENT OF BLADES

Bulldozers have three major blade types: Standard (Straight) (S) blade which is
designed for production in stockpiles, and in general earthmoving work. It has
spreading characteristics. Universal (U) blade is used for moving large amount
of earth to long distances as in the case of mining applications. Semi-Universal
blade is the combination of straight and universal blade types. Capacity of
straight blade is increased by adding short wings to both corners. Thus the blade
has spreading characteristics and increased capacity.

Blade types and blade edge and edge ends (bits) are selected based on the
application and task in question.

Figure 3. Center cutting edges and end bits of dozer blade, (Anon d, 2020).

Blade Cutting Edges

Finish Dozing (FD) End Bit: Corner protection for normal to abrasive
conditions. Used when face wear is common, See Figure 4a.

(a)
Figure 4a. Finish Dozing type (FD) cutting edge end bit of buldozer blade (Anon
d, 2020).

Utility (HC)(Hot Cupped) End Bit: Used in low impact low abrasion
conditions. Provides cutting depth equal to the cutting blade. Hot cupped end
bits provide maximum penetration, See Figure 4b.

(b)

Figure 4b. Utilty type cutting edge (HC) end bit of buldozer blade, (Anon d,
2020).

General Duty (GD) End Bit: Most commonly used in general earfthmoving
and dozing applications. It has a thicker wear area for reinforced penetration,
See Figure 4c.

(c)
Figure 4c. General duty type cutting edge (GD) end bit of buldozer blade (Anon
d, 2020).

Extra Wear Life (EWL) End Bit: It is used in abrasive conditions and for high
production leveling. It provides a thicker wear area and maximum cutting depth,
See Figure 4d.

(d)

Figure 4d. Extra wear life type cutting edge (EWL) end bit of buldozer blade
(Anon d, 2020).

2.1. Blade Types and Their Use

The blade is described as a heavy, metal plate which is securely attached on the
front of the dozer. With this heavy, metal blade, the dozer can do its work of
pushing and shoving earth materials like soil, rubble, sand, and debris (Anon c,
2020). As the hydraulics evolved, the adjustable angle dozer and angle blade
were developed which are ideal for earth moving in which spoil to be moved
aside. Angle dozers are favoured for cutting roads and trails along cross sloped
terrain (Berry, 2016).

The buldozer blade’s function is to push, to shear, to cut and to roll the material
ahead of the tractor. The dozer is an effective and versatile earthmover. It can
economically move the material to about 100 m away, (Aksakkaf, 2003).

There are three basic dozer blade types: Straight blade, or S blade; universal
blade, or U blade; and the S-U combination blade, and the variations like coal
blades and angle dozer blades. The S blade is primarily used for fine grading
while the U blade can carry more material than the latter one. And the S-U
combination blade is typically used in quarry and mine sites, (Ozdogan &
Ozdogan, 2020b).

Straight Blade

(a)
Figure 5a. Most coımmon buldozer blades (Ozdogan & Ozdogan, 2020b).

Straight Blade (S-Blade): It is a short blade that has no lateral curvature and
side wings. It is used for fine grading, stripping and ditching in fine grained,
medium to hard material.

U-Blade

(b)

Figure 5b. Most coımmon buldozer blades (Ozdogan & Ozdogan, 2020b).

Universal Blade (U-Blade): It is tall and very curved laterally and has large
side wings to carry more material. It is ideal for pushing and material handling
tasks in soft to medium soil.
 S-U Blade

(c)

Figure 5c. Most coımmon buldozer blades (Ozdogan & Ozdogan, 2020b).

Semi-U Blade: It is the combination of Straight (S) blade and Universal (U)
blade. It is shorter and less lateral curvature and smaller side wings. S-U blade is
ideal for pushing piles of large rocks as in the case of quarries and mines

2.2. Basic Adjustments of Buldozer Blade

Main dozer blade control hydraulic cylinders are as follows:

Bulldozer hydraulic lift cylinders are responsible for lifting the entire blade up
and down, See Figure 6. Bulldozer hydraulic tilt or blade tilt cylinders are
responsible for tilting the blade forward and backward. On dozer tilt models
there are typically two tilt cylinders. Whereas, on power angle tilt models there
is typically one cylinder.

Figure 6. Bulldozer blade control hydraulic cylinders (Anon d, 2020)

Bulldozer hydraulic angle cylinders are only found on power angle tilt models
(6-way blade). They will angle the blade to the right and left.

Bulldozer hydraulic ripper cylinders are only on the buldozer models

equipped with a ripper. They are responsible for adjusting the height and angle
of ripper attachment in the rear of the buldozer, See Figure 6.

2.2.1. Tilting of Blade

Tilting is the vertical movement of the blade end. This movement is within the
vertical plane of the blade. Tilting permits concentration of tractor driving power
on limited length of blade (Aksakkaf, 2003), Figure 7.

Figure 7. Dozer blade adjustments (Kumar, V., 2017a)

2.2.2. Pitching of Buldozer Blade

The control which allows the operator to vary the angle of attack of the blade
cutting edge with the ground is called pitch. It is the movement of the top of the
blade toward or away from the tractor, (Aksakkaf, 2003), Figure 7.

2.2.3. Angling of Buldozer Blade

Turning the blade so that it is not perpendicular to the direction of tractor’s

travel is called angling. This causes the pushed material to roll off the trailing
end of the blade. Rolling material off the endof the blade is called “side casting”,
(Aksakkaf, 2003), Figure 7.

3. PULLING FUNCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF TRACTOR

(RIPPERS, COEFFICIENT OF TRACTION AND RIPPABILITY)
Another primary tool of the crawler bulldozer is the ripper. It is a claw-like
device which can be seen at the back of a dozer. As its name implies, it rips,
breaks, and shatters hard, earth materials for easy handling and transporting.

The reason why the bulldozers having rippers are as follows: Excavating land in
a less time and providing a good product. It increases the efficiency of work.
The product (broken material) from ripping may be used for various purposes.
Pushing ripped ground in front of the blade forms better rolls. It may also be
used in filling trenches, (Kumar A, 2018b). Rippers are used in excavation of
foundations; removing deposits of clay and gravel; excavating for drain pipes;
cutting roads in hills; cutting ditches. In rippable formations it may be used in
loosening rock instead of drilling and blasting in smaller stripping operations.

Wheel bulldozers generally are equipped with no rippers because of the

comparatively lower tractive power. If right ripping tool is selected for a specific
ground formation and buldozer model, best efficiency is reached and lowest cost
per ton of production is achieved. The first step in ripper selection is to
determine the application. Choosing the right ripping tractor for the ground and
production conditions is dependent on tractor flywheel horse power, tractor
gross weight, downpressure available at the tip of the ripper. Elevated-sprocket
design tractor has proven to be the best ripping tractor due to its superior tractive
ability (Anon c, 2000).

Ripper Shank Types: There are two types of ripper shanks. Single shank ripper
and multiple shank ripper.

The single shank ripper is preferred for harder applications and when greater
effectiveness and more production is required. As a rule of thumb, if a buldozer
spends 20 % of the time in ripping, it is considered a ripping production
application. Then, a single shank ripper has to be selected. If the material to be
ripped is harder or tighter, a single shank ripper is favoured (Anon c, 2000).
Single (usually adjustable) shanks are needed when bulk work with larger
dozers with FlyWheel HP 228 kW & 38 tonne (D8), 302 kW & 47t (D9), 425
kW & 66 tonne (D10), 634 kW &105 tonne (D11) sizes) at harder formations
where smaller size dozers can not handle.

Multiple shank ripper is preferred in lighter and multiple use and site
applications. The more varied the job conditions, the greater the need fort he
multisahnk ripper. Multishank ripper are usually found on smaller bulldozers
(D6-D7 sizes) as they tend to do lighter multipurpose work. As a rule of thumb,
the less the number of shanks, more the ripping power is.

Ripper teeth (Tip) Types: There are three (3) main types of ripper tips.
Standard type teeth, Penetration type teeth and Impact type teeth. Teeth type is
selected depending on the rock formation encountered in the field.

The main components of a ripper are as follows: Tip (Point): It is the

component that enter the rock structure by wedge action, splitting and breaking
the rock. The Shank: It is the component which holds the point and shank
protector. The Tool Bar: It is a heavy transverse box section to which attached
are shanks and which is raised and lowered and inclined by power assembly.
The Push Block: A tractor buldozer pushed against the push block so as to
increase the tip pull of the leading tractor ripper in order tor ip out prism of
extremely hard rock. The Power Assembly: It consists of arms and hydraulic
cylinders for raising and lowering and including tool bars with its attaches
shank, (Kumar, V., 2017b).

Figure 8. Digging forces of a single shank ripper (Kumar, V., 2017b).

Rippers are used to tear and split hard ground, weak rock or old pavement bases.
Heavy ripping is accomplished with crawler tractors because of the power and
tractive force available from such machines, Figure 8.

The heavier and more powerful the tractors are, the higher the ripping forces
they have. The ripping is a function of traction power of the buldozer, type and
design of the ripper and its tip, impacting capability of ripper, geology and
characteristics of the rock formation like weathered, laminated,
metamorphosed, faulted etc. The bigger the dozer is, the more capable of ripping
the stronger rock is.

(a)

Bulldozer hydraulic ripper cylinders are only on the buldozer models

equipped with a ripper. They are responsible for adjusting the height and angle
of ripper attachment in the rear of the buldozer, See Figure 9a.

Figure 9b and 9c illustrate ripper, ripper shank guards and ripper teeth.
 (b)

(c)

Figure 9 (a),(b),(c). Ripper shank, ripper, ripper teeth and ripper guard, (Anon d,
2020).
Table 1. Coefficient friction (traction) of various material surfaces for wheel and
crawler bulldozers (Aksakkaf, 2003).

Surface type Traction Coefficient for Traction Coefficient for

Wheel Dozer Crawler Dozer
Dry Rough Concrete 0,80-1,00 0,45
Dry, Clay 0,50-0,70 0,90
Wet, Clay 0,40-0,50 0,70
Wet sand & Gravel 0,30-0,40 0,70
Loose, Dry Sand 0,30-0,30 0,30
Dry Snow 0,20 0,15-0,35
Ice 0,10 0,10-0,25

Crawler bulldozers’ tractive (pushing) forces are much higher than that of wheel
dozers, See Table 1.

In order to determine if the ground is rippable or not both laboratory and in situ
study of the rock formation to be carried out. Parameters like strength and
density of the rock, and seismic velocity tests to be carried out. Ripping surveys
are usually carried out by OEM which includes site inspection, rock analysis and
seismic survey and evaluation.
Figure 10a. Rippability chart based on speed of propagation of seismic waves in
rock for a buldozer of 425 kW and 66 tonne range, (Anon c, 2000)

Rippability depends on the speed at which sound waves travel through rock
formation. Seismographic methods used in determining whether the rock is
rippable with a reasonable accuracy, See Figure 10a.

If the sound waves propagate in the rock formation at low velocities, it implies
the rock is a weak and is rippable. If sound waves travel at high velocities in the
rock formation, it means that rock can be ripped, See Figure 10b.

Figure 10b. Rippability chart based on speed of propagation of seismic waves in

rock for a buldozer of 634 kW and 105 tonne range, (Anon c, 2000)

Rippability datas of various soils and rocks are normally available from the
manufaturer of bulldozers. The data is usually based on velocity ranges for
different types of soils and rocks with respect to the buldozer size and power,
See Figures 10 a &10b above.

4. CONCLUDING REMARKS

A large mining or a construction bulldozer comprises of the tractor and a blade

in front which is a pushing tool and a ripper at the rear which is a pulling tool.
There are different types of blades depending on the application; their cutting
edges and end tips also vary based on the ground and material properties. There
are different types of rippers, ripper guards, and ripper teeth depending upon the
hardness and the strength of the formation being ripped. Shanks are of single
ripper type or multiple ripper type. As the number of the ripper on the shank
increases its penetration and plowing force (power) decreases for a specific
buldozer. The larger the buldozer, the higher the ripping power.

In crawler bulldozers belt tracks, the weight of the equipment distributed out
evenly to a large area on the earth, so they can easily move through and perform
the task in muddy, sandy soil and in soft ground and on rough terrain.

Traction of bulldozers is a function of engine HP, Power transmision of power

and torque transmitted to the ground, equipment weight and coefficient of
friction between tracks and surface of ground material below. Crawler
equipment are not designed to propel too much, otherwise the life of the
expensive undercarriage will be prematurely worn out.

Crawler equipment have much higher tractive force and have higher pushing
and towing power. Therefore, they are usually equipped with rippers. Crawler
equipment are convenient to work at weaker underfoot and bulldoze higher
strength material like rocky formations.

Specific penetration and cutting power is the horsepower of tractor per blade
length (HP/m or kW/m) which implies the ability of the blade to penetrate the
material and obtain a load. Specific production is defined as horsepower of
tractor per m3 of blade (HP/m3 or kW/m3) which is a measure of its capability of
pushing a load.

The buldozer blade’s function is to push, to shear, to cut and to roll the material
ahead of the tractor and/or to pull, to shear and rip the ground behind. The dozer
is an effective and versatile earthmover. It can economically move the material
to about 100 m distance.

REFERENCES

Aksakkaf, I, 2003: “Dozers” College Park, University of Maryland, U.S.A.

Anon a, 2019: “Dozer blades” www.Dozer_Blade_Types.Pdf

Anon. b, 2019: “ High lift and low lift final drives” Construction
Machinery/SpringerLink. Link.springer.com

Anon c, 2000: “Handbook of Ripping” 12th edition, CAT Inc., Peoria, IL, USA.
Anon d, 2020: “Google Images”

Anon e, 2020: “Google Source”

Anon f, 2020: “Bulldozer” Wikipedia source, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldozer

Berry, T., 2016: “The Earliest Bulldozers”,

https://www.oemoffhighway.com/home/article/20841295/the-earliest-bulldozers

Hadi, M, 2019: “Proforma prima Buldozer Hasil Permutakhiran Teknologi.html

ilmubeton.com”
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nTeknologi.html

Kumar, A., 2018a: “Bulldozer As Machinery-Equipment”, SlideShare.net,

Punjab Tech. Univ., India

Kumar, A., 2018b: “Rippers”, SlideShare.net, Punjab Tech. Univ., India

Kumar, V., 2017a: “Surface Mining Dozer” SlideShare/MiningDozer.html,

Lecturer in Mining Engg at Govt. Polytechnic, Bicholim-Goa., India.

Kumar, V., 2017b: “Ripper Production” SlideShare/Ripper-Production.html,

Lecturer in Mining Engg at Govt. Polytechnic, Bicholim-Goa., India.

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