Investigation into the Effects of Suspension Characteristics and Design Parameters on the Performance of Tracked Vehicles using an Advanced Computer Simulation Model

Abstract

This paper describes the results of an investigation into the effects of the characteristics of the suspension system, initial track tension, vehicle weight and location of the centre of gravity on the tractive performance of tracked vehicles over unprepared terrain. The investigation was carried out using a newly developed computer simulation model NTVPM-86. The results show that the suspension characteristics, initial track tension and vehicle weight have noticeable effects on the mobility of tracked vehicles over marginal terrain, while the location of the centre of gravity, within the normal range, has a less significant influence on the tractive performance. It is demonstrated that the simulation model NTVPM-86 can play a significant role in the optimization of tracked vehicle design or in the evaluation of vehicle candidates for a given mission and environment.

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