Finite element analysis of the effect of up-armouring on the off-road braking and sharp-turn performance of a high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle

Abstract

A comprehensive finite element investigation is carried out of the effect of up-armouring on the off-road performance of a prototypical high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle. The effect of up-armouring on the vehicle performance was investigated under the following off-road manoeuvres: straight-line flat-land braking; straight-line off-angle downhill braking; sharp left turn. In each case, the appropriate vehicle performance criteria are identified and the parameters used to quantify these criteria are defined and assessed. The computational results obtained clearly revealed the compromises in vehicle off-road performance caused by the up-armouring employed to improve vehicle blast and ballistic protection performance and survivability. The results obtained are also analysed and explained in terms of general field-test observations in order to judge the physical soundness and fidelity of the present computational approach. Finally, the potential benefits and ramifications of lightweight up-armouring in providing the needed level of blast and/or ballistic performance while causing fewer compromises in the vehicle off-road performance are also discussed.