Utilization of ADAMS to predict Tracked Vehicle Performance

摘要

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Mechanical Dynamics Inc. (MDI) pioneered the field of mechanical system simulation, and has remained focused on this technology since its founding in 1977. Engineering teams use the company's ADAMS software to build and test "virtual prototypes," realistically simulating on their computers the full-motion behavior of complex mechanical system designs. Using ADAMS can help manufacturers reduce the number of costly physical prototypes, improve design quality, and significantly shorten product development cycles. ADAMS virtual prototyping products are used by thousand of engineering teams from nearly every manufacturing industry, including automotive, defense, aerospace, aircraft, off-highway equipment, rail, shipbuilding, industrial machinery, mechatronics, biomechanics, and others. In the terrain-vehicle systems industry, there is an increasing interest in switching to the use of commercial virtual prototyping and simulation of tracked vehicles. Mechanical Dynamics Sweden AB are developing a add-on module for ADAMS called Tracked Vehicle Toolkit (ATV), which is targeted towards applications in the military and civilian tracked-vehicle systems industries. ATV will feature multiple track systems in one model, various topologies in each track system, a fully dynamic track model and soft and hard soil interaction.