RIDE DYNAMICS OF HIGH-SPEED TRACKED VEHICLES - SIMULATION WITH FIELD VALIDATION

Ride dynamic behaviour of a typical high-speed tracked vehicle, such a s a conventional military armoured personnel carrier (APC) negotiating rough off-road terrains, is studied through computer simulations and field tests. A comprehensive ride dynamic simulation model is develope d, assuming constant forward vehicle speed and non-deformable terrain profile. The ride model includes dynamic track load and wheel/track-te rrain interaction. Dynamic track load is modeled in view of track belt stretching and initial track tension, whereas an equivalent damper an d continuous radial spring formulation is employed to model wheel/trac k-terrain interaction. Field testing of a APC subjected to discrete ha lf round obstacles of various radii, a sinusoidal course, a random cou rse, and a Belgian Pave, is carried out for various vehicle configurat ions and speeds. Computer simulation results are validated against fie ld measured results. The comparison of measured and predicted results shows generally good agreement.