Author(s)

N. Tsujiuchi, T. Koizumi, K. Uemura & H. Horii

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach that analyzes the interaction between crawler and soil by using the Particle Element Method (PEM). The traction characteristics of the crawler shoe are discussed in detail using an analytical model constructed by the PEM. An analytical model is built by the PEM to analyze the behavior of soil particles. The model consists of a shoe, load weights and soil. In laboratory experiments, motion of the shoe is measured to verify the validity of the analytical model, and slip displacement and traction force are measured to examine dependency of traction characteristics. As a result, the analytical results are very similar to the experimental results. By analyzing soil particle flows and the traction force on each face of the shoe, the influence of ground pressure on the relationship between slip displacement and traction force is considered carefully. It is understood that the larger the ground pressure, the more hardened is the soil and the slower it flows, and in such conditions, contact forces from the contact particles to the underside of spacing and the inner side of the rear grouser are stronger so that the shoe does not move easily. As mentioned above, it is found that the PEM is quite effective in the analysis of the interaction between crawler and soil. Keywords: tracked vehicle, crawler shoe, particle element method, slip displacement, traction force. 1 Introduction Since tracked vehicles are often used on soil because ground pressure is lower and mobility on soil is higher than wheeled vehicles, it is important to investigate accurately the interaction between crawler and soil to forecast the mobility of

Keywords

tracked vehicle, crawler shoe, particle element method, slip displacement, traction force.