A terramechanics model for high slip angle and skid with prediction of wheel-soil interaction geometry

Abstract

Previously developed terramechanics models of wheel-soil interaction forces do not cover the full span of possible wheel states, including large slip angles and ratios. This paper synthesizes a model that covers the full range of slip and skid ratios and slip angles by building on classic terramechanics and soil failure models. The need for wheel and soil specific tuning is reduced through use of a closed-form model of soil flow around the wheel to determine the wheel-soil contact geometry. The terramechanics model is validated both with and without the soil flow model on two wheels in sand for slip ratios from −1 to 0.9 and slip angles from 0$°$ to 60$°$, showing good prediction of tractive forces, sidewall forces, and sinkage over a wide variety of states. The data from these experiments is also presented, as the only open source data set to cover both a high range of slip angles and slip ratios.