Characteristics of Dynamic Track Tension for Three Dimensional High Mobility Tracked Vehicle.

Abstract

In this paper, dynamic track tension for high mobility tracked vehicle is investigated by multibody dynamic simulation techniques. This research focuses on a heavy military tracked vehicle which has sophisticated suspension and rubber bushed track systenms. In order to obtain accurate dynamic track tension of track subsystems, each track link is modeled as a body which has six degrees of freedom. A compliant bushine element is used to connect track links. Various virtual proving ground models are developed to observe dynamic changes of the track tension. Numerical studies of the dynamic track tension are validated against the experimental measurements. The effects of pre-tensions, traction forces, turning resistances, sprocket torques, ground profiles, and vehicle speeds, for dynamic responses of track tensions are explored, respectively.