Evaluation of the Slip Sinkage and its Effect on the Compaction Resistance of an Off-Road Tracked Vehicle

Abstract

When an off-road tracked vehicle travels, shearing action and ground sinkage occur on the soil–track interface, severely affecting the tractive performance of the vehicle. Notably, ground sinkage, which is induced by the vehicle’s weight (static sinkage) and longitudinal forces in the direction of travel producing slip (slip sinkage), develops motion resistance, directly restricting the tracked vehicle’s performance. Thus, it is critical to consider both static sinkage and slip sinkage to assess the tractive performance of a tracked vehicle. In this research, model track experiments were conducted to investigate slip sinkage. The experimental results showed that the slip sinkage increased as the slip ratio increased, but the rate of increase decreased. The slip sinkage was found to increase as the density of the ground decreased and imposed vertical load increased. The experimental results were used to calculate normalized slip sinkage, and an empirical equation for slip sinkage in terms of slip ratio was developed. This equation will allow vehicle operators to predict the slip sinkage and associated motion resistance for given soil and vehicle conditions.