DEVELOPMENT OF A LABORATORY TEST RIG FOR STUDYING ACTIVELY-DRIVEN TRAILER WHEELS OF TRACTOR-TRAILER UNIT

Abstract

Tractor-trailer units (TTU) equipped with actively-driven trailer wheels represent significant potential for modern agricultural applications. However, their widespread scientific study and industrial implementation remain limited due to insufficient understanding of the actively-driven wheel-supporting surface interaction. The research purpose is to substantiate the fundamental principles for enhancing the off-road mobility of tractor-trailer unit. This paper presents the results of development of laboratory test rig for experimental investigation on substantiation of actively-driven (trailer) wheel rotation modes. The engineering documentation for the laboratory test rig was developed in accordance with technical design requirements in compliance with Unified System for Design Documentation Standards using the KOMPAS-3D software. The research has yielded a mathematical expression for defining the operational range of coefficient of kinematic mode of wheel rotation during laboratory test rig testing studying. Based on the expression data and functional relationships between the coefficient of kinematic mode of wheel rotation and the number of teeth on change gear (gear ratio) were obtained. Based on the research results, the gear ratios corresponding to the investigated range of the kinematic rotation mode coefficient of the tested wheel were determined. Thus, the developed laboratory test rig enables to conduct experimental studies of the performance of the running wheels of an actively-driven trailer, in order to substantiate the principles of improving the off-road mobility of tractor–trailer units.