Snowmobile model for ride dynamic analysis. (1st January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hebert, Paul-Andre; Rakheja, Subhash; Richard, Marc J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of vehicle design. Volume 64:Number 2/3/4(2013)
• Page Start: 325
• Page End: 346
• Publication Date: 2014-01-01
• Subjects: snowmobile -- snowmobile model -- ride dynamic, ride analysis -- ground profiles -- trail profiles -- ground roughness -- track model -- traction model -- snowmobile suspension -- off-road -- snowmobile simulation; Motor vehicles -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; 629.231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-3369

Abstract

Snowmobiling involves exposure to high magnitude vibrations. Ride comfort thus forms a major design requirement, currently met through iterative prototyping and field-testing. This study thus aims at developing a snowmobile ride model. The nine degrees-of-freedom ADAMS model includes sub-models for: detailed suspension, track, trail profile, deformable ground, quasi-steady traction, and simplified rider and seat. Four trail roughnesses were characterised through Power Spectral Density. Field tests provided vehicle response. Simulations' agreement ranged from poor to good. A parametric analysis pointed to ride comfort improvements reaching 58%, based on the rms vertical acceleration at the seat.