• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.333-339
• /
• 2004

This paper is concerned with an experimental investigation about tractive performance of a tracked vehicle on extremely soft soil. A tracked vehicle model with principal dimensions of $0.9\;m(L)\;{\times}\;0.75\;m(B)\;{\times}\;0.4\;m(H)$ and the weight of 167 kg was constructed with a pair of driving chain links driven by two AC-servo motors. The tracks are configured with detachable grousers with variable span. Deep seabed was simulated by means of bentonite-water mixture in a soil bin of $6.0\;m(L)\;{\times}\;3.7\;m(B)\;{\times}\;0.7\;m(H)$. Slip of vehicle and driving torque of motor were measured with respect to experimental variables; grouser span, grouser chevron angle, driving speed, drawbar-pull weight, position of center-of-gravity and weight. $L_8$ orthogonal array is adopted for DOE (Design Of Experiment). The effects of experiment variables on traction performance are evaluated.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.177-187
• /
• 2016

To evaluate the tractive performance of tracked trencher on seafloor surface, a new shear stress-displacement empirical model was proposed for saturated soft-plastic soil (SSP model). To validate the SSP model, a test platform, where track segment shear test can be performed in seafloor soil simulacrum (bentonite water mixture), was built. Series shear tests were carried out. Test results indicate that the SSP model can describe the mechanical behavior of track segment with good approximation in seafloor soil simulacrum. Through analyzing the main external forces applied to seafloor tracked trencher during the uniform linear trenching process, a drawbar pull prediction model was deduced with the SSP model. A tracked walking mechanism of the seafloor tracked trencher prototype was built, and verification tests were carried out. Test results indicate that this prediction model was feasible and effective; moreover, from another side, this conclusion also proved that the SSP model was effective.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1 s.74
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2007

Measuring the ground speed and the rotation speeds of tracks is an easy and realistic method to detect the track slips. It is very advantageous if the slips can be measured and applied to real time control of the vehicle. With a proper speed, the tractive force of a tracked vehicle may be calculated from the vehicle dynamics. For the control of tracked vehicle, the relationship between the slip and the tractive force is necessary. In this paper, a series of drawbar-pull tests, in which slips of two tracks are measured under the variational draw-bar weight, is executed to directly obtain the slip-tractive force relationship. For the purpose of the test, a tractive vehicle model was manufactured, and an artificial soil was simulated by using a bentonite-water mixture.

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.34-38
• /
• 2003

A mathematical model was developed for estimating the mechanical interrelation between characteristics of soil and main design factors of a tracked vehicle, and predicting the tractive performance of the tracked vehicle. Based on the mathematical model, a computer simulation program (TPPMTV) was developed in the study. The model considered the continuous change in tension for the whole track of a tracked vehicle, the analysis of shape and tension of the track segment between sprocket and first roadwheel, and the side thrust on both sides of grouser by the active earth pressure theory in predicting the tractive performance of a tracked vehicle. Also, the model contained not only sinkage depth of the track but the pressure distribution under the track in analyzing the side thrust. The effectiveness of the developed model was verified by performing the draw bar pull tests with a tracked vehicle reconstructed for test in loam soil with moisture content of 18.92％. The predicted drawbar pulls by the model were well matched to the measured ones. Such results implied that the model developed in the study could estimate the drawbar pulls well at various soil conditions, and would be very useful as a simulation tool for designing a tracked vehicle and predicting its tractive performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 1993.10a
• /
• pp.1196-1201
• /
• 1993

Test of Caterpillar Challenger 65 tractor which has rubber tracks, and articulated four wheel drive tractor with dual wheels and a mechanical front wheel drive tractor were conducted on an unplowed and plouwed wheat stubble field. The following parameters were analyzed : tractive efficiency (ηv), net tractive coefficient ($\phi$n), slip ($\sigma$) , drawbar pull(Fv), drawbar power (Pv) and forward velocity(v). The maximum net tractive coefficient was established at the tractive efficiency of 0.60 on the unplowed wheat stubble field : for the Challenger 65 tractor 0.855 ; 4WD 0.624 and MFWD 0.534 and on the plowed wheat stubble field with the tractive efficiency of 0.40 for the Challenger 65 tractor 0.82 : 4WD 0.57 and for tractor MFWD 0.48.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.240-247
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a rubber-crawler type vehicle as a traveling device for harvesting water-dropwort cultivated in water contained paddy rice field in winter season. Methods: A commercial rubber-crawler type vehicle was used to investigate application of rubber crawler to the paddy rice field as preliminary test. As the result of the preliminary test, a both prototype traveling device with rubber crawlers for a water-dropwort harvest was designed with inclination of $45^{\circ}$ at the front-end and rear-end of crawler under the basic water depth of 0.6 m in the paddy rice field. The device was fabricated and attached to the experimental harvesting test devices on the front of the prototype vehicle. The size of the prototype crawler vehicle with a harvesting part is $2,800{\times}1,460{\times}1,040 $ (mm) ($L{\times}W{\times}H$) with weight of 9.21 kN (maximum). Sizes of the crawler of prototype vehicle are ground contact length of 900 mm, width of 180 mm, height of 1,070 mm and distance between center to center of crawlers of 720 mm. The side-overturn angle of the prototype was $26.4^{\circ}$. Results: Driving performance of the prototype vehicle in water contained paddy field were good at both forward and reverse (backward) directions as weights were applied. The drawbar pull and the maximum sinking depth of the prototype vehicle were 3.5 kN and 0.13 m respectively at water depth of 0.5 m, when the weight and bearing capacity of the prototype rubber crawler in the paddy field were 8.51 kN and 26.3 $kN/m^2$, respectively. Conclusions: Results of the driving test performance of the prototype crawler in paddy rice field at the water depth of 0.5 m were satisfactory. The prototype had enough drawbar pull and driving ability in the deep water contained paddy field.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.693-703
• /
• 2017

Rover wheel's mobility depends on soil's condition and wheel's design. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of soil conditions, which are Jumunjin sand and Korean lunar soil simulant (KLS-1), on wheel's motion performance. The experiments were performed by using a single wheel testbed with a wheel which grouser height is 15mm on Jumunjin sand and KLS-1, respectively. Also the influence of grouser length to wheel's mobility performance was studied. The experimental results of torque, drawbar pull and sinkage relating to slip ratio were discussed and analyzed to evaluate wheel's motion performance. Results showed wheel moving on KLS-1 has high performance than Jumunjin sand. Wheel's mobility performance was influenced by soil's properties of cohesion and frictional angle. In addition, wheel's performance of drawbar pull and Torque increased with the increasing of grouser length.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.97-108
• /
• 2016

Lunar rover plays an important role in lunar exploration. Especially, performance of rover wheel related to interaction with lunar soil is of great importance when it comes to optimization of rover's configuration. In this study, in order to investigate the motion performance of lunar rover's wheel on Korean Lunar Soil Simulant (KLS-1), a single wheel testbed was developed and used to carry out a series of experiments with two kinds of wheel with grousers and without grousers which were used to perform the experiments. Wheel traction performance was evaluated by using traction parameters such as drawbar pull, torque and sinkage correlated with slip ratio. The results showed that the single wheel testbed was suitable for evaluation of the performance of wheel and rover wheel with grousers which was likely to have higher traction performance than that without grousers in Korean Lunar soil simulant. The experimental results could be utilized in verification of the optimum wheel design and effectiveness of wheel traction for Korean lunar rover.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.215-224
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to classify the energy efficiency of 131 tractor models tested during from 2006 to 2010 in Korea. Methods: Four sub-indexes were developed using the fuel consumptions at 60% and 90% of rated speed with partial loads and at pull speeds of 3.0 km/h and 7.5 km/h with maximum drawbar pull. Weighting factors of the sub-indexes were also considered to reflect the characteristics of tractor's actual working hours in Korea. Four sub-indexes were integrated into a classification index. Using the developed classification index, a five-classification system was made on the basis of normal distribution of tractors over the classification range. Percentage of $1^{st}$ grade interval was expected to be close to 15%, $2^{nd}$ grade 20%, $3^{rd}$ grade 30%, $4^{th}$ grade 20%, $5^{th}$ grade 15%. Results: Number of $1^{st}$ grade was 21, $2^{nd}$ grade 23, $3^{rd}$ grade 39, $4^{th}$ grade 33, $5^{th}$ grade 15 among 131 models. Conclusions: Classification index was developed by integrating four sub-indexes. By the classification method using developed index, distribution of classified tractors was acceptable for practical application.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.234-243
• /
• 2002

When a vehicle is operated over sort terrain, torque(or soil thrust) applied to driving wheel brings about shear displacement far soil due to compression and shear failure of soil under tire. This shear displacement give rise to slip and a additional sinkage due to slip. This additional sinkage is usually referred to as slip-sinkage. The slip-sinkage is affected by soil conditions and inflation pressure of tire. This slip-sinkage influence tractive performance on driving wheel . We conducted the experimental study far investigating the effect of slip on sinkage and tractive performance of driving wheel, such as motion resistance, thrust and drawbar pull. The experiment was carried out over three different soil conditions(soft, hard and very hard soil) far a tire with three levels of inflation pressure(120kPa, 240kPa and 360kPa). The results of this study show qualitatively slipsinkage characteristics and slip-tractive performance relationships of driving wheel with soil conditions and inflation pressure of tire.