Virtual Prototype Analysis Of Bulldozer's Differential Steering Mechanism Based On ADAMS

Hydrostatic dual-power differential steering is the most advanced tracked vehicle steering mechanism. There are shortcomings in the traditional transmission design method; it uses the technology of virtual prototyping to establish hydrostatic dual power differential steering before physical prototype. It is significant in shorten the development cycle and reduce costs by simulating the kinematics and dynamics of differential steering in actual working conditions and obtaining the dynamics parameters of differential steering.The paper analyzed the composition and working principle of tracked vehicle differential steering mechanism, and made appropriate simplified of differential steering. It used of the UG and ADAMS software to build a virtual prototype of tracked vehicle differential steering mechanism, and analyzed the virtual prototype's kinematic characteristics of a single and double power flow conditions. The results show that movement of differential steering mechanism in line with the working principle. It calculated the tracked vehicle's extreme traveling conditions turning and in a straight line, and got the maximum moment of resistance. Then it analyzed the virtual prototype's dynamic characteristics in extreme traveling conditions, and obtained the dynamic curves of differential steering mechanism in extreme conditions through dynamic analysis. The results shows that torque characteristic curve fluctuate within a certain range, average consistent with the theoretical results.It obtained the risk points of planetary gear mechanism and the natural frequency of the differential steering mechanism by using WORKBENCH Stress Analysis and Modal Analysis. It verified the feasibility of hydrostatic dual-power differential steering mechanism through the virtual prototype's analysis of the differential steering mechanism, and also provided an advanced analytical tool for the tracked vehicle steering differential design.