International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)

Modeling and Simulation of Multi-Axle Combat Vehicle Model

over Different Terrain Obstacles
Deshmukh Abhijeet B.1, K SenthilKumar2, Prof. (Dr.) H.V.Vankudre3
1

Post Graduate Student, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India

ScientistF, Addl.Director,Vehicle Research and Development, Establishment(VRDE), Ahmednagar, India
3
Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India

Abstract The use of modern simulation tools in the

development of new armoured vehicles permits shorter
development times and a reduction in the number of
prototypes. The paper focus is on usage of simulating
technologies in construction of combat and special vehicles.
While designing military vehicle, its performance during off
road and ability to crossover different terrain obstacles plays
an important role. In the present work virtual prototype of
Multi-axle combat vehicle has been modeled in Multi-body
Dynamics (MBD) software. The evaluation has been carried
out at different vehicle speed(s) over different obstacles.
Virtual prototype of military vehicle can be analysed to
evaluate crossover ability for obstacles encountered during
actual field travel. It helps in carrying out extensive
parametric studies and tests that are difficult to carry out on
physical prototype. Paper consists of introduction, objective of
research, model description, terrain obstacle and simulation.
Keywords Multi-Axle Vehicle, Combat
Simulation, Performance analysis, obstacles.

Fig.1 Multi-Axle Combat Vehicle

Special vehicles like military combat vehicles require

high ability to overcome natural and artificial obstacles.
Development of the eight wheeled combat vehicle
computer model allows motion simulation in the various
terrain conditions. Simulation power of computer-aided
engineering (CAE) software increases every-day. Instead
of constructing and testing multiple physical prototypes,
now most products are created and tested virtually. This
reduction in hardware constructions saves time and money.
Commercial software like LMS Virtual.Lab is capable of
performing a wide range of analysis including multi-body
dynamics, finite element analysis, optimization and
sensitivity analysis etc. Virtual models can be used to
supplement or replace physical testing during the product
development.

Vehicle,

I. INTRODUCTION
Military strategic guidelines has always stressed about
the importance of mobility. If vehicle is able to operate
effectively over terrain that enemy cannot negotiate or
move with greater speed, this will be decided advantage
over enemy. This requirement can only be met by vehicles
capable of much higher speed and a high degree of off road
mobility. The improved mobility demand depends upon the
vehicle suspension system. The paper focus is on
performance of combat vehicle over obstacles like
triangular ditch, vertical step and straight walled trench etc.

II. OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCH

The main objective of this work is to present the
performance analysis and ability of the combat vehicle over
different obstacles such as triangular ditch, vertical step,
straight walled trench etc.

285

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)
III. MODEL DESCRIPTION
A. Vehicle Model
The eight wheeled combat vehicle model is built up in
parameters with a multi-body simulation tool (MBS). The
combat vehicle model shown in Fig. 1 represents the
following components:
chassis and wheel components
axle kinematics
all-wheel drive
independent suspension systems
springs and shock absorbers
bump stop shock absorbers
road profiles such as triangular ditch, vertical step,
straight walled trench etc

Fig. 2 Wheel Displacement while crossing Triangular Ditch at 5km/hr

TABLE I
MODEL PARAMETERS

Sr.
No.

Parameter

Value

Mass of the vehicle

23600 kg

Each unsprung mass

200 kg

Spring Stiffness

156kN/m

Damping constant

44 kNs/m

Fig. 3 Hull Acceleration while crossing Triangular Ditch at 5km/hr

Track width

TABLE II
ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE BODY AT CG LOCATION

Acceleration m/s2
Velocity

2.4 m

IV. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Obstacles will cause a vehicle to move slowly or
circumvent the obstacle. Two criteria are required for a
vehicle to cross an obstacle. There must be
no interference between the obstacle and the bottom
profile of the vehicle and
enough traction and enough torque at the driving wheels.

Max

Min

2 km/hr

2.8

-0.7

5 km/hr

6.8

-1.5

6 km/hr

8.6

-1.8

8 km/hr

11.5

-2.55

B. Vertical Step Climbing

It is assumed that a wheeled combat vehicle has an
adequate approach angle and that it employs an all-wheel
drive system. Step height for the performance analysis
taken is 600 mm. Time charts of wheel displacement of
vehicle, vertical acceleration at CG location of vehicle
body crossing vertical step at 5km/hr are shown in Fig.4
and Fig.5 and acceleration for different constant speed(s)
given in the Table III. While crossing the obstacle, vertical
acceleration of vehicle body is changes. Striking of the
wheels to the obstacle causes increase in the vertical
acceleration.

A. Triangular Ditch Crossing

First simulation is carried out on obstacle, triangular
ditch. The obstacle crossover simulation analysis is carried
out by virtual prototype MBD model of wheeled combat
vehicle. The triangular ditch is 4m wide and depth of 1m.
Time charts of wheel displacement and vertical
acceleration for centre of mass are shown in Fig. 2 and Fig.
3 respectively. Extreme values of vertical accelerations for
centre of mass at different speed(s) of virtual combat
vehicle are shown in Tab. II.

286

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)

Fig. 4 Wheel Displacement while crossing 600 mm Step at 5 km/hr

Fig. 6 Wheel Displacement while crossing 2000 mm Trench at 5 km/hr

Fig. 5 Hull acceleration while crossing 600 mm Step at 5km/hr

Fig. 7 Hull Acceleration while crossing 2000 mm Trench at 5km/hr

TABLE III
ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE BODY AT CG LOCATION

TABLE IV
ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE BODY AT CG LOCATION

Acceleration m/s2

Acceleration m/s2

Velocity

Velocity
Max

Min

Max

Min

2 Km/hr

4.6

-1.5

2 km/hr

3.1

-1.3

3 Km/hr

7.2

-2.5

5 km/hr

5.4

-2.6

5 Km/hr

9.7

-5.7

6 km/hr

7.1

-3.1

8 Km/hr

13.2

-9

8 km/hr

8.5

-3.7

C. Straight walled Trench Crossing

Trench crossing ability of wheeled AFVs depends to a
large extent on the number of axles and their position along
the length of the vehicle. It is usually quoted for the case
where the vehicle approaches the trench in a direction
perpendicular to its edge. Straight walled trench has width
2 m and depth 1 m. Time charts of wheel displacement and
vertical acceleration at CG of vehicle while crossing trench
are shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 respectively. Acceleration
of combat vehicle at different vehicle speed(s) are tabulated
in Table IV.

V. CONCLUSION
A multi-axle wheeled military vehicle has been modeled
successfully in Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) software
LMS Virtual.Lab. The model developed has been
effectively used for predicting the vehicles obstacle
crossing capability. The obstacle crossing capability of
vehicle model has been carried for obstacles namely
i)Triangular ditch, ii) Vertical step, iii) Straight walled
trench. Vehicle dynamic parameter such as vertical
acceleration at CG of the vehicle has been captured using
the model developed.

287

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)
The obstacle crossing simulation has been done at
different constant speeds. The vertical acceleration has
been found to increase with the vehicle speed. It could be
possibly due to striking of wheel to the obstacle.

REFERENCES
[1]

Acknowledgement

[2]

I wish to thank Prof. (Dr.) H. V. Vankudre (Head,

Department of Mechanical Engineering) for his full support
and being the source of my motivation for this work. I wish
to express my deep sense of gratitude to my guide at
V.R.D.E, Mr. K Senthilkumar (Sc.F,Addl. Director,
VRDE, Ahmednagar) who inspite of having a busy
schedule, always found time for me, providing in valuable
guidance, timely support. I would like to thank Prof. (Dr.)
C.S. Pathak(Coordinator PG studies, Department of
Mechanical Engineering) and Mr. Sujit Kumar (Sc,c,
VRDE, Ahmednagr) for their helpful guidance, continuous
encouragement and cooperation extended to me during this
work.

[3]

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