Study an the Steerability of Articulated Tracked Vehicles

Abstract

A mathematical model for predicting the steering response of articulated vehicles has been developed and computerized for numerical application. The model contains some of the basic parameters govering the respones of articulated tracked vehicles, such as slippage, centrifugal forces, vehicle characteristics, the point of articulation and the mass ratio of rear vehicle to the front one.
The model has been verifed by means of scale model response tests.
The computer program has been used to parametrically investigate the steering response of specific vehicles in different turning conditions.
It is shown that the ariticulation point, the mass ratio and the steering delay of the rear vehicle to the front have a strong effect on the turning characteristics of the articulated tracked vehicles.