Soil stabilization machine (soil stabilizer / recycler)

01

Size the working width, depth, power and rotor

Caterpillar's RM500 road reclaimer, as published by a Cat dealer, has a cutting/mixing width of 96 in and a maximum cutting/mixing depth of 20 in, noting that maximum depth varies by rotor. It uses a Cat C15 engine rated at 546 hp gross and 539 hp, meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V, drives the rotor through a 3-speed chain at 110, 152 or 205 rpm, and offers Universal 16, Universal 18, Combination and Soil (Stabilization) rotors. Maximum travel speed is 6.5 mile/h, operating weight is 62,920 lb and maximum operating weight 69,518 lb. [1]

Wirtgen's WR 240i, as listed on a Wirtgen dealer page, has a maximum working width of 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) and a maximum working depth of 510 mm (20.1 in), an operating weight (CE) of 67,452 lbs and EU Stage 5/US EPA Tier 4f emissions; Wirtgen gives its ideal soil-stabilizing range as 4,000 to 8,000 m² a day. [2] Wirtgen's WR series job report states the WR mixes pre-spread binder into soil at a working depth of up to 56 cm, and describes the WR 250 at 571 kW / 777 PS with a rotor tool spacing of 30 x 2 mm and six selectable rotor speeds. [3]

Metong's WBZ21 soil stabilizer lists a Cummins NTA855-C360 engine at 258 kW / 350 hp and 2000 r/min, a milling and mixing rotor 2000 mm wide working to 350 mm deep with 160 tools and a maximum drum speed of 135 r/min in reverse rotation, an operating speed of 0–3.3 km/h, a maximum travel speed of 24 km/h, closed hydrostatic drive for mixing and travel, and dimensions of 8530×3128×3500 mm. [4]

Editorial calculation: 96 in × 25.4 = 2,438 mm and 20 in × 25.4 = 508 mm, so the RM500 and WR 240i treat a similar strip, while the WBZ21 covers 2000 ÷ 2438 ≈ 82% of that width at about 350 ÷ 508 ≈ 69% of the depth; 539 hp × 0.7457 ≈ 402 kW for the RM500 against 258 kW for the WBZ21. [1] [2] [4]

Give the supplier the soil type and any old pavement to pulverize, the binder type and rate, required treatment depth and lane width, daily area, required rotor type and tool spacing, engine emission standard, spray system (water, emulsion or both) and flow range, transport width and weight limits, cab and safety equipment, and quantity.

02

Meter binder and water to meet the mixing specification

Ohio DOT Item 206 (chemically stabilized subgrade) requires a power-driven transverse type mixer equipped with a computer-controlled volumetric water readout. Without a project mix design it sets spreading rates of 6% cement, 5% lime or 7% lime kiln dust, based on a soil dry density of 110 lb/ft³ (1760 kg/m³). For cement or lime kiln dust, initial mixing must bring 60 percent of the soil mixture through the No. 4 (4.75 mm) sieve and 100 percent through the 1 inch (25 mm) sieve; water is added within 2 hours of initial mixing, and mixing, compacting and shaping must then be completed within 2 hours. [5]

For lime, Ohio requires clods reduced to 2 inches (50 mm) in initial mixing, a mellowing period of not less than 24 hours and not more than 7 days, and final mixing to a maximum clod size of 1 inch (25 mm) with at least 60 percent passing the No. 4 sieve. Mix depth is checked by trenches or holes for the full treatment depth using diluted hydrochloric acid or phenolphthalein, compaction must start within 30 minutes of final mixing, and work is done at 40 F (5 C) or above on unfrozen soil. The contractor submits the equipment type, intended speed and application calculations at least 2 workdays before work. [5]

Cat's RM500 offers water and emulsion spray systems that can run together or separately, with flow rates of 114–1136 L/min for water, 60–600 L/min for the ultra-low-flow water system and 114–946 L/min for emulsion, metered by a computerized system set manually or automatically. [1] Wirtgen describes the WR pushing a water tanker connected by hose and adding water in metered quantities under microprocessor control; one rail project specified three passes to reach a particle size under 25 mm with up to 90 kg/m² of binder. [3]

Editorial calculation: at Ohio's 6% cement rate and 1760 kg/m³ dry density, a 0.30 m treatment depth needs about 1760 × 0.30 × 0.06 ≈ 31.7 kg of cement per m², and a 2.4 m wide machine advancing at 8 m/min covers 2.4 × 8 × 60 ≈ 1,152 m² per hour of mixing. [5] [3]

03

Compare what suppliers offer

Suppliers linked to this page list soil stabilizers; each card links to the page reviewed.

The listing reviewed covers a wheeled soil stabilizer with a 2000 mm mixing rotor; ask each supplier for the rotor, tool and spray-system options, and for job references at your treatment depth.

04

Trace the machine

This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's design.

05

Fill the specification fields with values for your project

A soil stabilizer quotation needs values for your project. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.

06

Send the soil, binder and output data together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Material: [soil type; old pavement thickness]
Treatment: [width; depth; binder and rate]
Output: [m² per day]
Rotor: [type; tools; speeds]
Spray: [water; emulsion; flow range]
Machine: [power; emissions; transport limits]
Quantity: [units]

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