Proving heavy-vehicle performance

The Nevada Automotive Test Center and Mechanical Dynamics joined forces to redesign and improve the drivetrain, frame, steering, and other subsystems of a heavy-duty military vehicle for the USMC.

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) launched a program recently to substantially improve the safety, stability, and reliability of their heavy-tactical-vehicle fleet, which face severe operating conditions on a global scale. An additional challenge is the logistics of integrating new powertrains, suspensions, and other components from a variety of suppliers into the vehicle. It is critical to evaluate how these systems will effect the vehicle's overall capability and reliability in harsh environments.

To ensure that vehicles perform reliably, manufactures have traditionally relied on performing physical tests in remote locations. This type of testing is required to validate, for example, that a vehicle will operate properly throughout its life cycle in sub-zero temperatures, in hot desert heat, in blowing snow or blowing sand, across rough terrain, or on steep mountain inclines.