Fabrication and Feasibility Testing of the Composite Roadwheel for the LVT-7 Amphibian Vehicle. Phase 1

摘要

A composite roadwheel for the United States Marine Corps LVT-7 Amphibian Vehicle was designed and manufactured by Compositek Engineering Corporation. The composite roadwheel is comprised of glass/epoxy composite insert, produced by wet filament winding followed by compression molding at high temperature to cure the matrix. A wet filament wound graphite/epoxy stiffening ring is bonded to the composite wheel separately. Stainless steel inserts are installed at the interface between the composite and the vehicle hub shaft to resist creep effects. Four (4) roadwheels were tested on two (2) test vehicles at AVTB, Camp Pendleton, CA. During feasibility testing, two roadwheels failed after 7.9 hours of operation and the other two (2) wheels failed at 25.6 hours of operation. Failure inspection indicated disbonding between the graphite stiffening ring and the fiberglass composite insert as the major cause of failure during high speed wheel maneuvering. Keywords: Combat vehicles, Roadwheels, Composites, Suspensions. (sdw)