IMPACT OF LOADING DISTRIBUTION OF ABRAMS SUSPENSION ON TRACK PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY

High life cycle costs coupled with durability and environmental challenges of tracked vehicles in South West Asia (SWA) have focused R&D activities on understanding failure modes of track components as well as understanding the system impacts on track durability.

The durability limiters for M1 Abrams (M1, M1A1, and M1A2) T-158LL track systems are the elastomeric components.

The focus of this study is to review test methodology utilized to collect preliminary data on the loading distribution of a static vehicle. Proposed design changes and path forward for prediction of durability of elastomers at the systems level from component testing will be presented.