Torsional stiffness modeling and optimization of the rubber torsion bushing for a light tracked vehicle

Taking the rubber torsion bushing of a certain type of all-terrain tracked vehicle as the research object, a theoretical model of torsional stiffness was proposed according to the non-linear characteristics of rubber components and structural feature of the suspension. Simulations were carried out under different working conditions to obtain root mean square of vertical weighted acceleration as the evaluation index for ride performance of the all-terrain tracked vehicle, with a dynamics model of the whole vehicle based on the theoretical model of the torsional stiffness and standard road roughness as excitation input. Response surface method was used to establish the parametric optimization model of the torsional stiffness. The evaluation index showed that ride performance of the vehicle with optimized torsional stiffness model of suspension was improved compared with previous model from experiment. The torsional stiffness model of rubber bushing provided a theoretical basis for the design of the rubber torsion bushing in light tracked vehicles.