Abstract
This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the coefficient of adhesion for a semi-tracked propulsion system on a transport vehicle fitted with rubber-reinforced tracks. The study aimed to determine how the coefficient of adhesion varies with the slip ratio and to conduct a comparative assessment of the adhesion properties of wheeled, tracked, and semi-tracked propulsion systems. The experimental studies were carried out on a specially designed laboratory test rig using physical modelling. The experimental relationships obtained showed that the use of a semi-tracked drive system yields the highest coefficient of adhesion across the entire range of slip investigated. The maximum coefficient of adhesion for a semi-tracked drive system exceeds that of a wheeled drive system due to the increased contact area and a more uniform distribution of pressure across the ground surface. The results obtained can be used in the design of off-road vehicles and in the improvement of semi-tracked drive system designs.