Investigation of a Non-linear Suspension System for Electric Multi-axle Military Truck Moving over Cross Country Terrains

Purpose: The study explores the critical domain of safe suspension design for electric military trucks operating in cross-country terrains, extending beyond the prevalent focus on electric cars with in-wheel drive. The research objectives include non-linear suspension design, considerations for extreme cross-country terrains, and the study of varying velocities on ride dynamics. Methods: A novel non-linear suspension model for a multi-axle electric military truck with an in-wheel motor is proposed. The model captures the complexities of extreme military operations and introduces the time delay factor between three axles to analyze suspension performance parameters at different velocities using Simulink. Three types of road profiles are considered: sinusoidal bump, ISO 8608 class C, and class F. With 14 degrees of freedom and non-linear behavior, the proposed model offers valuable insights into the road-holding capacity and ride comfort of electric military trucks in challenging cross-country environments. Results: The findings indicate that the suspension performance of the electric military truck is higher compared to an electric car. Further, the findings predict the safe velocity range for enhancing the comfort and stability of electric military trucks, thus offering a unique perspective for designing a safer suspension system. Conclusion: A novel non-linear suspension system for a multi-axle, in-wheel driven electric military truck was modeled by considering various road profiles, such as a sinusoidal bump and cross-country terrains. Based on this, the effect of different velocities on the suspension performance parameters was studied, and a safer range of velocities for a secure suspension design was established as per ISO 2631.