Ammann has announced the integration of its proprietary "ACEforce" intelligent compaction system onto its RSS 180-MC soil stabilizer range. Soil stabilization involves mixing cement or lime into the ground to create a solid base for road construction. Historically, verifying the stiffness of this stabilized layer has required stopping the operation to dig test pits or use handheld density gauges-a time-consuming process that leaves gaps in the data.
The new ACEforce system utilizes a robust accelerometer mounted to the stabilizer's mixing rotor frame. As the machine advances, the system measures the vertical acceleration of the rotor as it strikes the soil. A hard, dense soil response causes a distinct acceleration "bounce" pattern, while soft, loose soil absorbs the rotor energy, resulting in lower acceleration values.
This data is processed 100 times per second and displayed to the operator as a color-coded map on the in-cab screen. Red indicates soft, uncompacted zones, while green indicates target stiffness achieved. This allows the operator to visually identify weak spots and immediately re-process the material, ensuring uniform density across the entire width of the road base.
Crucially, the system also monitors the mixing depth. By measuring the resistance on the rotor hydraulic pressure, the machine calculates exactly how deep the stabilizer is cutting. If the machine begins to "float" up and lose depth, the system alerts the operator to apply more down pressure. This ensures that the cement is mixed to the full design depth, preventing structural failures caused by shallow processing. By digitizing the compaction result, Ammann is eliminating the guesswork from soil stabilization.
