Assessment of the Impact of Wear and Tear of Rubber Elements in Tracked Mechanism on the Dynamic Loads of High-Speed Tracked Vehicles

Abstract The operation of high-speed tracked vehicles takes place in difficult terrain conditions. Hence, to obtain a high operational reliability, the design or modernisation process must be precise and should consider even the slightest details. The article presents issues related to the problem of formulating vehicle models using partial models of flexible elements used in tracked mechanisms. Changes occurring in the shape and properties of elements such as track pads and roadwheel bandages as a consequence of operating conditions are presented. These changes are reflected in the presented elastic–damping characteristics of components of the crawler mechanism. Numerical studies have shown that deterioration of chassis suspension components after a significant mileage may increase dynamic loads (forces) acting on the running gear. Increased forces in the running gear naturally result in increased stresses in the road surface on which the vehicle is travelling, which can pose a danger (or excessive wear and tear) to road infrastructure components such as culverts, bridges and viaducts. In the literature, model tests of objects are carried out on models that represent new vehicles, and the characteristics of the adopted elements correspond to elements not affected by the process and operating conditions. Its influence should not be ignored in the design, testing and running of a special vehicle. The tracked mechanism, as running gear, is designed for special high-speed vehicles for off-road and off-road driving. Its design ensures high off-road traversability. The dynamic loads originating from off-road driving are superimposed on those generated by the engine, drive train and interaction of the tracks with the roadwheels, sprocket, idler and supporting tracks return rollers.