Analysis of the influence of the metal wheel radial stiffness on traction characteristics

BACKGROUND: The traction characteristic of a wheel mover depends both on its design, which defines its stiffness, and on the physical-mechanical properties of soil. The combined use of the discrete element method to describe the soil and the finite element method to model the wheel makes it possible to specify and expand the existing empirical models of the interaction of the mover with the ground surface. The application of this method helps to reduce the amount of full-scale testing required to verify the interaction model. AIM: Improvement of the traction characteristic of a metal wheel by varying its design parameters. METHODS: Numerical methods of discrete and finite elements are used to develop a mathematical model of a metal wheel and determine traction characteristics. RESULTS: In this paper, the mathematical model of the metal wheel with ability to vary the thickness of the elastic sidewall was developed. Radial stiffness characteristics were obtained for three wheel samples. The developed mathematical model of the interaction of a wheel mover with a ground surface is based on the application of discrete and finite element methods. A proportional controller was used to create the forces applied to the wheel mover. The dependences of the longitudinal reaction coefficient on the slip coefficient were obtained and a comparative analysis of the radial stiffness influence on traction characteristics was carried out. CONCLUSION: The combined application of the discrete and finite element methods will make it possible to determine the traction characteristics of the movers of various designs when interacting with a deformable soil and to evaluate the influence of its design parameters on it.