Abstract
Off-road vehicles can compact soil, remove vegetation cover, and increase soil erosion. The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of vehicle dynamic parameters on terrain impact. Field tests of a wheeled vehicle at Fort Lewis, Washington, and a tracked vehicle at Fort Riley, Kansas, were conducted. In order to get a wide range of turning radii along with vehicle speed information, the vehicles were operated in a spiral pattern at both high speed and low speed in the field. Terrain impact severity was evaluated along the spirals based on initial impact guidelines. Dynamic parameters of the vehicles were derived from a GPS unit. Terrain impact severity increased as the vehicle turning radius decreased. At a fixed small turning radius, an increase of speed of the wheeled vehicle resulted in a sharp increase in the terrain impact severity. For the tracked vehicle turning at a fixed turning radius, the increase in speed had little effect on the terrain impact severity. Based on the statistical analysis, empirical models of terrain impact were proposed separately for wheeled vehicles and tracked vehicles.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
