Dynamic Steering Multiaxle Vehicles: Influence Of Axle-Numbers

By means of a mathematical model, the authors have analyzed the directional behaviour of multiaxle skid-steering vehicles: for a given class of such vehicles they have performed a parametric study on the influence of the axles number on the vehicle's performances.

It has been found that an increase of the number of axles greatly influences the directional behaviour and that both the power required by each wheel and the wear of its tyre are unequally distributed among the various axles and the two sides of the vehicle. Finally, the three axle vehicle has been found to be the one requiring the minimum engine power.