A Technique for Estimating the Slope-Climbing Ability of Wheeled Vehicles in Sand

Approximately 2500 tests of the ability of wheeled military vehicles to climb slopes of loose sand were conducted on a variety of beach and dune sands. Test procedures and techniques are described briefly. The strength of the sand on the slopes was measured by means of a cone penetrometer. The slope-climbing performance of each of the five sizes of vehicles tested is shown to be determined principally by the strength of the sand and by tire size and inflation pressure. The effect of each of these variables on performance is discussed briefly. An empirical method employing firm-surface tire-print data, wheel load, and sand strength is presented as a means of predicting the sand slope-climbing capability of conventional all-wheel-drive vehicles.