Radial Load Test of an Aluminum Roadwheel for the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

Abstract

A Composite roadwheel for the US Army M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank has been designed for volume production. The composite roadwheel uses an E-glass/ epoxy advanced composite material, produced by wet filament-winding followed by compression molding at a high temperature to compact and cure the matrix. Aluminum inserts are used to resist corrosion and creep at the bolted interfaces between the component and the vehicle. Stress analysis using NASTRAN finite- element computer models, combined with validation tests on an aluminum roadwheel, have been used to establish the strength of the existing aluminum wheel, and to evolve a composite wheel of comparable strength.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA145765

Entities

People

  • M. D. Ward

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum
  • Composite Materials
  • Compression Molding
  • Contracts
  • Deflection
  • Elements
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Gages
  • High Temperature
  • Instrumentation
  • Materials
  • Radial Stress
  • Roadwheels
  • Strain Gages
  • Stress Analysis
  • Stresses

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Military Science
  • Reinforced Composite Materials