SUSPENSION PARAMETER MEASUREMENTS OF WHEELED MILITARY VEHICLES

At the request of the US Army’s Tank Automotive Command (TACOM) a device was built to measure the suspension parameters of any military wheeled vehicle. This is part of an ongoing effort to model and predict vehicle dynamic behavior. The new machine is called the Suspension Parameter Identification and Evaluation Rig (SPIdER) and has a capacity intended to cover all of the military’s wheeled vehicles. The machine operates by holding the vehicle body nominally fixed while hydraulic cylinders move an “axle frame” in bounce or roll under each axle being tested. Up to two axles may be tested at once. Forces at the tires and motions of the wheel centers in three dimensions and two angles are measured. Other motions of the suspension and the minimal motions of the vehicle body are measured. For steer axles the steering ratio, Ackerman steer characteristics, and kingpin orientation are measured.