The Effect of Weight Distribution on The Required Steering Track-Forces in Tracked Vehicles

Abstract

During the last eighty years, there have been many improvements in the design of tracked vehicles. Great achievements have been established in both, the required engine-transmission systems and also in the shape of tracked vehicles. However, the effect of weight distribution on the required steering track-forces has not been fully developed completely. This work is mainly concerned with analysing the effect of weight distribution of a tracked vehicle on the required steering track forces. Previous works had dealt only with uniform normal pressure distribution. There has been hardly any theoretical analysis regarding the effect of different weights distribution on the required steering tracked forces. As a result, a new analysis has been established relaying on previous theoretical work for uniform normal pressure. It has been concluded that the required steering track forces when Centre of Gravity is near the front of the tracked vehicle are less than that when tracked vehicles carrying uniformly distributed weight.