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Experimental Research of the Effect of Track Chains Pre-static Tension on the

Mobility of a Tracked Vehicle

Conference Paper · May 2019

DOI: 10.1109/MILTECHS.2019.8870025

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International Conference on Military Technologies 2019 (ICMT’19)
May 30 – 31, 2019, Brno, Czech Republic

Experimental Research of the Effect of Track Chains

Pre-static Tension on the Mobility of a Tracked Vehicle
S.Manianin *, Y.Molev*, U.Vakhidov *, V.Makarov*, V.Belyakov* R.Dorofeev*,
I.Zonov † and P.Tyurikov †
* Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University n.a. R.E. Alekseev, Minin str., 24, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, e-mail:
moleff@yandex.ru
†
Zavolzhsky Crawler Vehicle Plant, 1, Zheleznodorozhnaya str., Zavolzhie, 606524, Russia

Abstract—The paper discovers the influence of the track chains

pre-static tension on the flotation, traction properties and fuel
efficiency of the tracked vehicle. Experimental researches were
carried out on the tracked vehicle TTS 34016 "Vetluga-Arctic",
as well as on a modified version of the vehicle, included the
tension mechanism with the elastic element. Experiments showed
that for this vehicle the best flotation and motion-stability of the
track are provided with a pre-static tension of 1.5 kN. The
average acceleration time to 40 km·h-1 decreased by 2 s; the
maximum speed increased by 3 km·h-1. Fuel consumption per
100 kilometers decreased by 3.5 liters.
II. RESEARCH OBJECT
The undercarriage of the tracked vehicle TTS 34016
“Vetluga-Arctic” (Figure 1, 2), produced by TransMash LLC
(http://www.transmashnn.ru), was modified to test the
influence of the track chains pre-tension on the traction and
dynamic characteristics of the vehicle. The gross weight of the
vehicle is 6 tons.

Keywords: tracked vehicle, snow, static tension, experimental

research, traction-dynamic characteristics, fuel efficiency

I. INTRODUCTION
The restricted road net of Russia in the regions of the
North, Siberia and the Far East, causes great difficulties in the
implementation of transport operations during geological
exploration; oil and gas production; industrial and road
building; maintaining of energy and communications objects;
agriculture and forestry; emergency response. It should be
noted that during the winter, when almost 90% of the territory
of the Russian Federation is steadily covered with snow for a
long time. During this period, the movement of tracked
vehicles is hampered or even impossible.
Figure 1 – The passenger tracked vehicle TTS 34016
One of the ways to ensure transport accessibility is to
“Vetluga-Arctic”
provide these areas with all-terrain vehicles capable of moving
in the winter in the snow virgin lands. Such a transport are
multi-wheeled vehicles low pressure tyres [1] and tracked
vehicle [2]. It is tracked vehicles that have become most
common where it is necessary to provide high mobility and
permeability when driving on snow virgin land [3], as well as
to be able to move on a car winter road (road of compacted
snow) with sufficient speed and fuel efficiency. One of the
factors affecting these indicators, the machine is the amount of
tension of the track chains.
It should be noted that the theory of tracked vehicles
motion on soils with low bearing capacity and snow were
considered in the works of many researchers [4-14.]. However,
issues related to the movement of tracked vehicles with the
possibility of track tension controlling through the snow are not Figure 2 – The cargo tracked vehicle TTS 34016
sufficiently illuminated. “Vetluga-Arctic
 General specifications of the vehicle is presented in Table
1.

TABLE I. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE TRACKED VEHICLE TTS

34016 “VETLUGA-ARCTIC”

Parameter Value
Curb weight, kg 4800

Gross weight, kg 6000

Payload, kg 1200

Passenger capacity 13+1 (including a driver)

Average ground pressure at full load,
20,0
kPa
Dimensions, mm

length 5800

body width 2000

width over tracks 2070

height 2225

Base, mm 3000

Gauge of tracks, mm 1655 Figure 3 – The screw tension mechanism of ТТС 34016
Clearance at full load, mm 400 Where 1 – the tension mechanism; 2 – the crank; 3 – the guide
Engine diesel, D245.12 S wheel; 4 – the axial retainer.
Maximum speed on ground (water),
45 (5)
km·h-1
Gradeability at full load on rigid dry
Up to 31°
soil, degrees
Side roll on rigid dry soil, degrees Up to 20°

The tension of the track chains commercially available

machines occurs by moving the crank of the guide wheel. The
crank is driven by a screw tension mechanism (figure 3).
An elastic element (torsion shaft) was introduced into the
crank construction in order to create a pre-static tension in the
drive of the guide wheels. This allows you to create a constant
tension force of the track chains (Figure 4).
The torsion is twisted at a certain angle and is fixed in this
position before installing the track chains. The torsion shaft is
released after installing of the tracks and begins to act through
the crank and the guide wheel on the chain. It creates a pre-
static tension force, which depends on the force (angle) created
by the pre-twist of the torsion shaft.
Depending on the terrain (plain, hilly terrain, snow virgin,
snow road, packed snow roads), the torsion twist angle can be
adjusted (by shifting the splined coupling), thereby it allows to
change the pre-tension force of the chains. Figure 4 – Tension mechanism of ТТS 34016 with the elastic
element
Where: 1 – the torsion shaft; 2 – the crank; 3 – the guide
wheel; 5 – the splined adjusting coupling.
 III. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES № Researched parameter
measu Acceleration time up to 40 km·h-1,
Experimental researches of the developed tension rement Maximum speed, km·h-1
s
mechanism were carried out during road tests on virgin snow 5 27,06 47,2
and packed snow roads. The maximum speed, the acceleration
6 25,98 48,5
time up to 40 km·h-1 and the fuel efficiency (fuel consumption
per 100 km of trip) were being registered during the tests. 7 25,12 46,6

The tests were carried out on the same machine. Initially, a 8 27,46 47,8
screw tension mechanism was installed on the machine. After 9 25,32 46,4
carrying out the necessary measurements, the screw
10 26,49 48,2
mechanism was replaced by the elastic mechanism, which
provided the preliminary tension of the track chains. average 26,42 47,36

The following equipment was used for researches of

traction and speed properties, gauge parameters and fuel
economy of the vehicle: The obtained values are given for tracks tension providing
1. Multifunction speed measurer VB20SL3 20Hz GPS the best maneuverability. Because of this, experiments were
Data Logger. carried out to assess the influence of the track tension on
2. Software «VBOXToolsVersion2.2.2». flotation of the vehicle thru snow.
3. Ruler 1m, accuracy class 2. Figure 5 shows an example of the rut formed by the tracked
4. Stopwatch. vehicle.
5. Measuring tank for diesel fuel 10 l.
The results of measurements of the traction-speed
characteristics of the vehicle TT 34016 "Vetluga-Arctic" are
summarized in Tables 2, 3.

TABLE II. TRACKED VEHICLE WITH STANDART TENSION MECHANISM

№ Researched parameter
measur Acceleration time up
ement Maximum speed, km·h-1
to 40 km·h-1, s
1 28,15 43,6

2 28,35 44,8

3 27,19 45,2

4 29,04 45,8

5 28,76 43,2

6 27,87 44,8 a
7 30,08 43,2

8 31,12 42,9

9 27,18 43,4

10 28,66 43,5

average 28,64 44,04

TABLE III. TRACKED VEHICLE WITH DEVELOPED TENSION MECHANISM

№ Researched parameter
measu Acceleration time up to 40 km·h-1,
rement Maximum speed, km·h-1
s
1 26,85 46,8

2 26,15 47,6 b
Figure 5 – Examples of the rut formed by the tracked vehicle: a
3 26,32 48,2
– snow deformation by the track, b – the rut.
4 27,45 46,3
 Processing and analysis of the tests results led to make the
conclusion that reduction of the track pre-static tension
increases the flotation. The value of pre-static tension (Tc) was
changed several times during tests. Values of Tc up to 3 kN
allowed the vehicle to overcome all areas of the terrain with
snow deep from 0.6 to 0.9 m.
The increase of Tc led to a deterioration in the flotation
and, at Tc> 6 kN, the vehicle could not move along these areas
of the terrain.
In addition, it was found that reducing pre-static tension
reduces fuel consumption (the example is shown in Figure 6).
However, reducing of the pre-static tension is limited by the
stability of the track. It was established experimentally that, in
order to ensure the stability of the track, Tc should be at least
1.5 kN. This approach is qualitatively identical for other
tracked vehicles, the only difference is in quantitative ratios.
Figure 6 – Dependence of fuel consumption (Q) on pre-static
tension (Tc)
CONCLUSION
The effect of pre-static tension of the track chains on the
traction-speed properties of tracked vehicles, their permeability
and fuel efficiency was experimentally tested.
The design of the mechanism of tension of track chains
with an elastic element (torsion) creating through the crank and
guide wheel constant tension of track chains.
Comparative field tests of tracked vehicles with a screw-
type tension mechanism and a mechanism providing constant
pre-tension of caterpillar chains in the conditions of snow
virgin soil are carried out.
It was established that for the TTS 34016 “Vetluga-Arctic”
tracked vehicle the preliminary static tension should be 1.5 kN
for the best flotation; fuel economy and stability of the track.
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On average, a tracked vehicle with a tensioning mechanism,
which provides pre-static tension of the track chains, showed
the best traction-dynamic results. The average acceleration
time to 40 km·h-1 decreased by 2 s; the maximum speed
increased by 3 km·h-1.
The results of fuel consumption measurements showed that
fuel consumption per 100 kilometers of the vehicle with
developed tension mechanism decreased by 3.5 liters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study was conducted in continuation of the research
conducted in the "Nizhny Novgorod scientific and practical
school of transport snow" in the framework of cooperation
between the Nizhny Novgorod state technical University. R. E.
Alekseeva and Zavolzhsky Crawler Vehicle Plant under the
contract № 28/18/DPR/108/18/2452.
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