Field Testing Of Vehicles To Support Mobility Evaluation Using Analytical Models

Analytical modeling and field testing should be used together to assure that vehicles are properly designed to meet the mobility mission profile as defined by the user. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of analytical modeling and field testing. The type of field testing described is that used by the U.S. Army to support the utilization of methodologies to model the overall “vehicle-driver-terrain” system, e.g., the NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM), in designing and evaluating the mobility performance of vehicle concepts and of existing vehicles.

Also, the test procedures used in each type of field test are briefly described. Ways and means are discussed as to how field tests are used to improve the accuracy of the NRMM, thus increasing the user's confidence in analytical modeling.