One of the most prominent causes for injury or death in the US military is rollover of a vehicle, particularly in the case of the MRAP (Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected Vehicle) and the M1114 Humvee.  The conditions under which these vehicles operate, in various terrains under situations requiring emergency maneuvers and top-heavy with armor, are often extreme, and the Army is looking for ways to assess and improve tire performance to minimize the likelihood of accidents.  

Similarly, the commercial trucking industry faces challenges of its own, such as recent changes by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce mandatory stopping distances and discussions on how to implement electronic stability control for tractor-trailers.  Unfortunately, facilities do not currently exist that allow tires to be tested on paved surfaces in a controlled process independent of the chassis setup of a test vehicle.

This presentation will discuss a new commercial truck tire testing facility being developed under a US Army SBIR grant with Camber Ridge, LLC.  The purpose of the facility is to provide new capabilities for assessing tire performance on both dry and wet paved surfaces as well as off-road under normal operating conditions.  Applications include not only military, but commercial trucking applications as well.  The project relies on input from an industrial users group to provide design criteria, test specifications, and overall direction to the project.  The machine design and facility layout will be discussed, as well as time frame for construction.