Design Optimization of Road Wheel Used in Tracked Armored Vehicles

Road wheels are carrier wheels located between the track system and the vehicle body in combat vehicles such as Tanks, Armored Personnel Carriers and Self-Propelled Howitzers. The design and durability of the mentioned wheel is of great importance in terms of the survivability of the armored vehicle. The analysis of the Road Wheel, which includes the steel rim and the rubber coated on it within the track system, is discussed in the study conducted. In order to ensure the production of the Road Wheel, which can be used in tracked armored vehicles weighing approximately 47 tons, with domestic means and to increase the diversity of suppliers in production, alternative solutions were investigated in order to make design changes in the currently used road wheels. In the studies conducted; the design dimensions of the reinforcement ring on the road wheel and the mounting distance to the road wheel were changed and compared using a computer-aided analysis program (Abaqus), and the strength and safety coefficient of each design created were given. The design closest to the safety coefficient was obtained from the values ​​found