TRACK INDUCED HEAVE-PITCH DYNAMICS OF VEHICLES WITH VARIABLE SECTION FLEXIBLE ATTACHMENTS

Multi-wheeled vehicles travelling on a rough track are subjected to un equal inputs at different wheel locations and are set to oscillate in various combinations of possible modes. Elastic bending and torsional deformations may be critical in design for vehicles with slender flexi ble body and components. In the present study, an analytical approach has been developed to study the track induced heave-pitch dynamics of a linear vehicle model composed of lumped masses and slender, non unif orm section elastic attachments in coupled bending-torsion modes. Exac t modal solutions for the variable section beam member with general en d conditions have been derived and utilised to develop the second orde r response statistics for the system. Results are presented for an air craft model with tapered flexible wings during ground runs on a non ho mogeneously profiled track supported jy elastic foundation.