Compressible Fluid Suspension Performance Testing

Abstract : Mobility testing was conducted on two HMMWVs at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and Davis Technologies International, Inc. (DTI) of Addison, Texas during the period of 23-27 September 2002. One of the vehicles tested was a standard HMMWV and the second was a HMMWV with a very low bandwidth active compressible fluid suspension system that was designed and installed on the vehicle by DTI. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the possible performance benefits of the compressible fluid suspension system. Ride quality performance was quantified over three separate cross-country courses. Each vehicle s driver limited speed was also measured over discrete half-round obstacles of 4, 6, and 8-inch heights. Vehicle maneuverability was also evaluated by testing over a lane-change course and a slalom course at a variety of vehicle speeds. Limited vehicle roll down tests were also conducted to get a comparison of the rolling resistance of the two vehicles.