PREDICTING WHEELED VEHICLE MOTION RESISTANCE IN SHALLOW SNOW

A vehicle traveling through snow is required to expend a greater amount of energy than is necessary when traveling on a rigid surface. Visually, this energy difference can be explained by the formation of a rut. Various attempts have been made in the past to equate the energy of compaction to vehicle motion resistance. However, many of the previous models use information gathered through the application of a vertical force (with a plate-sinkage device) to predict the horizontal motion resisting force. In an attempt to more accurately quantify the relationship between snow compaction and vehicle motion resistance, a vectorial analysis of compaction by a wheel is performed. A method for separating the compaction due to vehicle weight and forward thrust (horizontal propulsion) is suggested. Two methods of using this compaction force breakdown with field-generated data are proposed for the calculation of vehicle motion resistance in shallow snow. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

  72 Lyme Road
  Hanover, NH  United States  03755-1290
• Authors:
  • Blaisdell, G L
• Publication Date: 1981-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Energy conservation; Mathematical prediction; Motion; Motor vehicles; Pressure; Railroad tracks; Snow; Tests; Vector analysis; Vehicles; Wheels
• Old TRIS Terms: Horizontal orientation; Resistance; Shallow depth; Test and evaluation; Vertical orientation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Environment; Highways; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00371784
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CRREL-SR-81-30 Spec Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 29 1983 12:00AM