Transient Torque Response of Tracked Vehicle Suspension Rotary Dampers

Damper models used in Multi Body Dynamics simulations of tracked vehicles are commonly defined solely by damper curves, that is stabilized damper reaction torque as a function of steady state velocity. In reality, the achievement of the stable reaction torque lags behind damper curve torque upon attainment of a given velocity. As detailed in this paper, the idealization to reduce damper performance to a “damper curve” cannot produce an accurate representation of the two primary terrains military vehicles are designed against: half-round and ride quality courses. By introducing “compliance” and “lash”, the damper performance can be accurately represented. With the slight extension of this model to a fully physics based one, future dampers can be designed to expand the operating performance envelope of tracked vehicles.

Citation: D. Ostberg, K. Redner, S. Allen, “Transient Torque Response Modeling of Tracked Vehicle Suspension Rotary Dampers,” In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS), NDIA, Novi, MI, Aug. 16-18, 2022.