Analysis and Model of Corrosion Wear of Selected Materials Used in Special Vehicles

The paper deals with the evaluation and modelling of corrosion wear of two standard materials used in the construction of special vehicles. The experimental research on corrosion wear involved the testing of two steels, EN 10131 and EN C22R, in a salt spray at 35 and 50 oC for 24, 48, 120 and 144 hours. The model of the process of corrosion degradation of the tested materials uses the results of weight loss of the samples as a function of temperature and exposure time. The diagnostic macroscopic evaluation of corroded surfaces of the tested materials, using graphic (analogue) information of surfaces and its conversion into the digital form, is a completely new technology. The samples were photographed using a CCD camera, then pre-processed, segmented, and masks were created for the logic of deciding what corrosion is and what it is not. The final filtered image was created in binary values where logic 1 refers to a corroded and logic 0 to a non-corroded sample. The MATLAB software environment and the Image Processing Toolbox were used to process the results of the surface evaluation

Noise Reduction in the Cab of a Special Vehicle

Noise is highly associated with adverse effects on health, the human psyche and performance. Current special vehicles do not possess sufficient technologies to suppress the transmission of noise or vibration, which typically results in loss of control, comfort, driving safety, the performance of tasks, etc. At the same time, noise reduces attention and work efficiency while increasing fatigue, leading to hazards, dangerous situations, and missions that may not be completed. This article briefly presents selected parts of a project which included additional soundproofing of a special armoured mobile vehicle on a TATRA wheeled chassis. Basic theoretical, experimental, and practical information about this project is presented. To reduce noise, a selected damping material was used, which is a combination of recycled PUR foam and black rubber with a rough structure. The damping material was selected based on repeated experimental testing of sound absorption measurements from several damping materials. The material was chosen for suitable damping effects and corresponding technological properties (resistance to high temperatures, non-flammability, etc.). In the engine compartment and the cab of the vehicle, the damping properties were experimentally verified after retrofitting, while the noise was significantly reduced

MODELLING OF EROSION EFFECTS ON COATINGS OF MILITARY VEHICLE COMPONENTS

Military and flying machines (vehicles, aircraft, etc.) operate in extreme conditions and require appropriate measurements to improve the durability of all systems and materials in their subsystems. Protective coatings usually perform this function with great success. One of the most pressing needs for change military vehicles is the development of high performance coatings for erosion protection of military machine components (turbine, engine, compressor, turbocharger, intercooler components, etc.). The approach presented in this article is based on the use of computer simulation techniques to model the coating behaviour in simulated erosion conditions. Shear stress and equivalent plastic strain at the coating/substrate interface were used as criteria describing the coating response to particle impact. This article deals with preliminary modelling results, in terms of selecting a range of material properties (internal layers thickness and stress or strain) and the coating structure

Model of Optimal Cooperative Reconnaissance and its Solution using Metaheuristic Methods

The model of optimal cooperative reconnaissance as a part of the tactical decision support system to aid commanders in their decision-making processes is presented. The model represents one of the models of military tactics implemented in the system to plan the ground reconnaissance operation for the commander optimally. The main goal of the model is to explore the area of interest by multiple military elements (scouts, UAVs, UGVs) as quickly as possible. A metaheuristic solution to this problem which combines two probabilistic methods: simulated annealing and the ant colony optimisation algorithm is proposed. In the first part of this study, the optimal cooperative reconnaissance problem is formulated. Then, metaheuristic solution, which is composed of three independent steps, is presented. Finally, experiments are conducted to verify the approach to this problem

MODELLING OF EROSION EFFECTS ON COATINGS OF MILITARY VEHICLE COMPONENTS

Military and flying machines (vehicles, aircraft, etc.) operate in extreme conditions and require appropriate measurements to improve the durability of all systems and materials in their subsystems. Protective coatings usually perform this function with great success. One of the most pressing needs for change military vehicles is the development of high performance coatings for erosion protection of military machine components (turbine, engine, compressor, turbocharger, intercooler components, etc.). The approach presented in this article is based on the use of computer simulation techniques to model the coating behaviour in simulated erosion conditions. Shear stress and equivalent plastic strain at the coating/substrate interface were used as criteria describing the coating response to particle impact. This article deals with preliminary modelling results, in terms of selecting a range of material properties (internal layers thickness and stress or strain) and the coating structure

Optimal manoeuvre for two cooperative military elements under uncertain enemy threat

Consider an armed military group of two friendly elements that need to move between two given locations – a starting point and an end point – in an environment with the possible presence of armed enemy elements. The potential positions of the enemy may or may not be known in advance. Therefore, we capture the possible threat by identifying the locations that are advantageous from the enemy’s perspective. We model the problem using a stochastic programming approach. We then provide a deterministic reformulation of the problem in consideration of this possible threat and, through the use of cooperation, we minimise the total predicted threat as well as the suitability of the terrain for movement (or total length). Finally, we provide concrete experimental calculations and visualisations in our tactical information system, which serves as a tool for commanders to support their decision-making processes, and compare the obtained results to a selection of different approaches. Copyright © 2019 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Model of the Optimal Maneuver Route

The chapter deals with the mathematical model for planning the optimal movement route, which has been implemented in the Tactical Decision Support System (TDSS). The model processes and evaluates the data contained in the five raster layers, which are tactically relevant for planning the movement route of troops or autonomous vehicles on the battlefield. The basis for calculating the optimal movement route is a ground surface layer, which is then modified by algorithmic and criterion relationships with the layers of hypsometry, weather attack, and the activities of enemy and friendly units. The result of mathematical model calculations is a time-optimized and safe movement route displayed on the topographic basis. The experiments realized have verified the function of the optimal movement route model when neither the reconnaissance group nor the autonomous vehicle was observed by the enemy. The total time of the UGV with the use of the TDSS to cover the route of maneuver was 67 minutes shorter than the real time of the BRAVO group movement with the use of the TDSS and 105 minutes shorter than the real time of the ALFA group without the use of the TDSS. The comparison of responses to the attack shows that the BRAVO group using the Maneuver Control System (MCS CZ) as part of the TDSS has destroyed the attackers faster by 71 seconds than the ALFA group without the use of the TDSS

Using Metaheuristics on the Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Modified Optimization Criterion

This article deals with the modified Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem (MDVRP). The modification consists of altering the optimization criterion. The optimization criterion of the standard MDVRP is to minimize the total sum of routes of all vehicles, whereas the criterion of modified MDVRP (M-MDVRP) is to minimize the longest route of all vehicles, i.e., the time to conduct the routing operation is as short as possible. For this problem, a metaheuristic algorithm—based on the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) theory and developed by the author for solving the classic MDVRP instances—has been modified and adapted for M-MDVRP. In this article, an additional deterministic optimization process which further enhances the original ACO algorithm has been proposed. For evaluation of results, Cordeau’s benchmark instances are used

Optimization of the Weighted Multi-Facility Location Problem Using MS Excel

This article presents the possibilities in solving the Weighted Multi-Facility Location Problem and its related optimization tasks using a widely available office software—MS Excel with the Solver add-in. To verify the proposed technique, a set of benchmark instances with various point topologies (regular, combination of regular and random, and random) was designed. The optimization results are compared with results achieved by a metaheuristic algorithm based on simulated annealing principles. The influence of the hardware configuration on the performance achieved by MS Excel Solver is also examined and discussed from both the execution time and accuracy perspectives. The experiments showed that this widely available office software is practical for solving even relatively complex optimization tasks (Weighted Multi-Facility Location Problem with 100 points and 20 centers, which consists of 40 continuous optimization variables in two-dimensional space) with sufficient quality for many real-world applications. The method used is described in detail and step-by-step using an example