Computer-aided methods for design evaluation of tracked vehicles and theirapplications to product development

This paper summarizes the research effort on the development of the compute r simulation models, NTVPM and RTVPM, for design evaluation of vehicles wit h flexible tracks and rigid link tracks, respectively. The basic features o f these models have been validated using field test data. They have been su ccessfully employed in assisting vehicle manufacturers in the development o f new products and governmental agencies in the evaluation of vehicle candi dates, in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The application of the mo del NTVPM to the development of a new version of the infantry fighting vehi cle ASCOD is presented as an example.