Analysis of the chassis design for a high mobility wheel platform

This paper provides an analysis of a solution proposed for the design of the chassis of a special-purpose vehicle's mobile platform using an example of the high mobility wheel platform (KPWM) manufactured by the company Szczesniak Pojazdy Specjalne. The basic requirements pertaining to vehicle chassis are related to requirements concerning mechanical strength and lightness of structures, being difficult to satisfy at the same time. The suspension system used in the high mobility wheel platform in question represents a typical design, comprising a frame made of high-strength steel and based on stringers. The high mobility wheel platform's suspension system uses reinforced parabolic leaf springs and half-elliptic springs as the elastic elements, whereas shock absorbers and stabilisers as the damping and propelling elements, aimed to reduce tilts of the vehicle body while driving in a curvilinear track. By shifting the front driving axle towards the front vehicle section, a higher approach angle could be obtained. On account of difficult operating conditions and for off-road driving purposes, specific solutions have been applied to protect the vehicle chassis against damage when moving in difficult terrain. Moreover, bearing in mind the vehicle's intended use in military operations, where unplanned repairs of chassis components must often be conducted in the field, the designers have taken the necessity of using a very limited set of tools into account.