Finite Element Analysis and Experimental Simulation of Chassis Mounted Platform for Off-Road Wheeled Combat and Transport Utility Vehicles

Chassis mounted platform is an intermediate component between vehicle chassis and chassis mounted shelter, and is intended to act as a levelled base for shelters. Shelters in combat vehicles provide a closed stipulated environment to computerized tracking systems, sophisticated defense combat equipments to suit the operational and environmental requirements during warhead situations. Platform carries transfers and sustains unevenness in load arising from the road or soil irregularities during off-road vehicle travel. Present work deals with development, evaluation and improvement of one such platform for 8x8 vehicles. In this work, the platform under consideration is designed to accommodate two shelters, each being secured to the platform using standard twist locking arrangements. Securing locations are dependent on the size and weight of the commodity to be placed inside shelter. Major design ruminations of the platform include nature and pattern of load, flange orientations of channel sections, span between webs of consecutive channels, axle load distribution and vehicle geometry constraints as ground clearance and departure angle. Finite element analysis is carried out in to order evaluate stress and deflection in the present platform configuration. Experimental strain measurement at critical locations on the platform is carried at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to evaluate the performance of the platform under specified load-speed conditions. Relation between experimental stress values and strain gauge locations on the platform is assessed for different load magnitudes.