The methods for numerical research of "body-suspension-wheel-soil" system in assessment problems of flotation ability and ride comfort of wheeled vehicles are proposed. The use of the methods allows to take into account the pecu- liarities of interaction between the wheels and the deformable support surface in simulation of wheeled vehicles move-ment on soils with different physical and mechanical properties in prospective areas of operation. Numerical simulation is based on the finite element method in a nonlinear dynamic formulation.

When designing an all-wheel drive vehicle, an important task is to predict its traction properties and expected cross-country parameters. To solve such a problem it is necessary to have an adequate design model for interaction of a wheel propulsor and the deformable support base. The article deals with the problems associated with development of the test stand design, which allows to conduct fine experiments in the mechanical system “active wheel - ground” in a laboratory. The main tasks during the experiments on this stand are: simulation of the power and kinematic interaction of a real pneumatic tire (automobile wheel) with a deformable ground surface, the mechanical state of which can be varied; measurement of force and kinematic parameters of interaction in the system “tire - ground”; visualization of the process of unsteady interaction of the tire and the ground in the spot of their contact during acceleration, skidding and braking; development and creation of a measuring complex for assessing the physical and mechanical state of a ground massif. The authors reviewed the existing designs of similar stands and installations for determining the parameters of interaction of the wheel with the support base. Problems that need to be solved during the experiments are considered, namely: simulation of the power and kinematic interaction of a real pneumatic tire (automobile wheel) with a deformable ground surface, the mechanical state of which can be varied; measurement of force and kinematic parameters of interaction in the system “tire - ground”; development and creation of a measuring complex for assessing the physical and mechanical state of a ground massif. A set of measuring equipment is presented, with the help of which the physical and mechanical condition of ground conditions is evaluated during the tests. Investigations and experiments will make it possible to clarify the physics of the processes occurring in the spot of their contact, both from the tire side and from the ground.

A computational and experimental method is presented for assessing the influence of the roughness of a rigid surface on the stiffness and damping properties of automobile tires. The method is based on the solution of tire-ground contact problem using finite-element analysis. In the paper, the influence of two types of irregularities (peaks and pits), their size and shape and tire air pressure on tire enveloping properties is analyzed.

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The paper presents a system approach to the estimation of the off-road performance of the wheeled vehicles operating on deformable terrains. A problem-solving approach to the development of the model for the wheeled vehicle - irregular deformable terrain system is presented. The model was used for the simulation of the vehicle motion on different terrains. The presented method for the calculation of the wheel sinkage (calculation of the resistance to the motion of a wheeled vehicle) is based on the Y.S. Ageykin model. The paper presents the analysis of the research results.