• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2000

This study was conducted to develop the mathmatical model for predicting the side thrust which is generated by the shearing action on the vertical surfaces of the sides of the track. Experiments were conducted with the three different shear plates with grouser length of 1, 3 and 5 cm for two different soil condition using soil bin system. The measured side thrust were compared with the values predicted by the new model developed in this study and by Bekker's model respectively. The values of side thrust predicted by the new model were more close to the measured values than those of the side thrust predicted by Bekker's model . The total thrust measured were also compared with the values predicted by the conventional model which considers only bottom thrust effect and by the new model which contains not only bottom thurst but side thrust effect. The values of the thrust predicted by conventional modelwere lower than measured values for both of the soil conditions and the three levels of grouser length. The maximum errors of conventional model were increased with the increase of grouser length. but the values of the total thrust predicted by the model developed in this study were well matched to the measured ones for both of the soil conditions and the three levels of grouser lengths.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.31-41
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• 2021

A dozer is a construction machinery used to move soil mass along large open tracts of land. Soil thrust generated on the soil-track interface determines the performance of the dozer; to improve the tractive performance of the dozer, the outer surface of the continuous-track is designed to protrude with grousers. In this study, we calculated soil thrust of the dozer equipped with grousers with various shape ratios, and evaluated the optimal grouser shape ratio considering ground conditions. Grouser generated additional soil thrust on the side of the continuous-track (e.g., side soil thrust) and converted the shearing surface (e.g., from soil-track interface to soil-soil interface), increasing the soil thrust of dozer by about 1.3 to 1.6 times. The effect of grouser's shape ratio on the soil thrust of dozer differed with the relative density of the ground. As the shape ratios of grouser increased, soil thrust of dozer decreased at the relative density of 40% and increased at the relative density of 80%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the shape ratio of grouser severely affects the dozer's performance; thus, careful consideration of the optimal shape ratio of grouser is of great importance in the mechanical design, evaluation, and optimization of the undercarriage of dozers.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.250-253
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• 2003

This paper concerns about an experimental investigation about steering performance of tracked vehicle on extremely soft soil based on DOE(Design Of Experiment) using L8 orthogonal Array. A tracked vehicle model with principal dimensions of $0.9m{\times}0.8m{\times}0.4m$ and weight 167kg was constructed with a pair of driving chain links driven by two AC-servo motors. The tracks are configured with detachable grousers, the span of which can be varied. Deep seabed was simulated by means of bentonite-water mixture in a soil bin of $6.0m{\times}3.7m{\times}0.7m$. Turning radii of vehicle and torques of motors were measured with respect to experimental variables; steering ratio, driving speed, grouser chevron angle, grouser span, grouser height. The effects of experiment variables on steering performance are evaluated.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.4 s.71
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• pp.37-42
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• 2006

This paper is concerned with experimental investigation of steering performance of a tracked vehicle on extremely soft soil. A tracked vehicle model with principal dimensions of 0.9 m(L)x0.75 m(B)x0.4 m(H) and weight of 167 kg was constructed with a pair of driving chain links, driven by two AC-servo motors. The tracks were configured with detachable grousers with variable span. A deep seabed was simulated by means of a bentonite-water mixture in a soil bin of 6.0 m(L)x3.7 m(B)x0.7 m(H). The turning radii of vehicle and driving torques of motors were measured with respect to experiment variables: steering ratio, driving speed, grouser chevron angle, grouser span, and grouser height. L8 orthogonal table is adopted for DOE (Design of experiment). The effects of experiment variables on steering performance are evaluated.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

When an off-road tracked vehicle travels, an engine thrust that is transmitted to the continuous track induces a shearing action on the soil-track interface. Consequently, the relative displacement known as slip displacement takes place on the soil-track interface, which develops an associated soil thrust acting as a traction force. For the loose or soft ground conditions, an excessively large slip displacement can be required for the development of the desired soil thrust which will make the tracked vehicle mobile and therefore the outer surface of the continuous track is generally designed to protrude with grousers. This paper fundamentally studied the effect of grousers on the soil thrust of off-road tracked vehicles. Based on the soil-track interaction theory, a new soil thrust assessment method that properly takes into account the effect of grousers was developed. Also, the soil thrust of off-road tracked vehicles equipped with a number of grousers was evaluated using the developed assessment method. The results showed that grousers increased the soil thrust of the continuous track, enhancing the overall tractive performance of off-road tracked vehicles. These effects were more obvious as the height of grouser increased and the spacing of grouser decreased; thus, it is concluded that the grouser which has smaller shape ratio (span of the grouser to a grouser height) significantly enhances off-road tracked vehicle's performance.

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

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

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.116-120
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• 2003

To study the trafficability on soft and cohesive benthic terrain, a tracked vehicle model($670mm(L){\times}750mm(B_c)$) is designed and tested. The pitch and chevron angle of grouser, weight and center of gravity of vehicle, and drawbar pull force are chosen as experimental variables. Slip, sinkage and inclined angle of vehicle are picked as performance values. Strength of soil is considered as noise factor. A preliminary straight-line motion test is performed. Then, DOE(Design of Experiment) is discussed for further research.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.188.2-188.2
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• 2005

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