Title: Investigation of various passive steering modes for a multi-wheeled combat vehicle

Authors: Moataz Ahmed; Mohamed Omar; Moustafa El-Gindy

Addresses: Department of Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, L1G 0C5, Canada ' Department of Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, L1G 0C5, Canada ' Department of Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, L1G 0C5, Canada

Abstract: This paper investigates the manoeuvrability of a multi-wheeled combat vehicle using various steering modes. Three steering modes are developed and evaluated against the conventional vehicle steering system (front steering). The first steering mode uses parallel steering of all wheels (crab steering). The second mode exploits the steering of the front and the rear fourth axle with a fixed third axle, while the third mode uses the steering of all wheels (counter steering) to satisfy Ackermann's steering condition. The manoeuvrability of the vehicle is assessed at low speed through curb-to-curb, minimum road width, and slalom manoeuvres. Moreover, the vehicle performance is assessed at high speed through a slalom manoeuvre. The results show the limitations and advantages of each steering mode and based on the obtained results, suggestions have been made to recommend which steering mode should be employed to exploit the best performance at different driving conditions.

Keywords: counter steering; crab steering; passive steering; steering limitations; multi-wheeled vehicles; combat vehicles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2021.120568

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2021 Vol.15 No.2/3, pp.188 - 203

Received: 25 Mar 2021
Accepted: 29 Mar 2021
Published online: 26 Jan 2022 *

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