A study of vehicle performance in snow

Abstract The snow trafficability problem is studied by calculating the energy absorbed by snow while being compacted by vehicle tracks. Using a constitutive law for snow which is valid for large volumetric strains and high strain rates, the rate of energy dissipation due to viscoplastic compaction of the snow is calculated and related parametrically to vehicle speed, track loading and snow density. Energy dissipated by shear effects is neglected. The results indicate that such studies can provide design guidelines for track geometry, track loading, and vehicle speed in terms of snowpack properties.