Non-linear Seventeen Degrees of Freedom Ride Dynamics Model of a Full Tracked Vehicle in simMechanics☆

Abstract Ride dynamics models may be used to study the vehicle vibration levels over various terrain conditions. In the present work, the tracked vehicle, containing 17 dof with 14 suspension stations along with an additional driver's seat bounce degree of freedom, has been developed in simMechanics. The simMechanics model incorporates the equivalent vertical nonlinear suspension characteristics of tracked vehicle suspension system, in each of the road-wheel stations. The sprung mass consists of the bounce, pitch and roll degrees of freedom and each of the unsprung masses consist of bounce degree of freedom. An additional degree of freedom is also formulated in the model, by virtue of driver seat motion. The tracked vehicle responses have been captured over defined terrains. The simMechanics model has been validated with an equivalent non-linear ride mathematical model of the full tracked vehicle. The developed simMechanics model may be used for vehicle dynamic control related studies and also may easily be co-simulated with multi-physical domains.