Rubber-tracked vehicles play a vital role in many industries, such as mining, deep-sea exploration, agriculture, forestry, construction, and military activities, mainly due to tracked vehicles' flexibility and ability to adapt to harsh environments. The mechanical properties of the interaction between deep-sea surface sediments and tracked vehicles are essential for developing deep-sea mineral resources. Due to the variety and complexity of off-road travel, a thorough understanding of the interaction between rubber-tracked vehicles and the underlying soil is critical.

This paper delves into the modeling attributes of rubber track vehicles, compares the physical properties of deep-sea sediment samples with bentonite and diatomite collected from land, analyzes the physical and mechanical parameters of kaolinite and diatomite in simulated deep-sea sediments, and formulates a highly water-saturated, highly plastic, large pore-size ratio simulated sediment with characteristics similar to those found in deep-sea surface sediments. Based on the ground mechanics theory of rubber track vehicles, pressure settlement tests simulating deep-sea sediment were conducted in a specially designed test tank, focusing on analyzing soil settlement pressure and bearing capacity. This resulted in the pressure-settlement relationship curve being obtained for the interaction between vehicle tracks and simulated sediments. Based on Bekker's theory, a subsidence model was proposed to obtain various parameter values for simulating the sediment pressure-subsidence model and deep sea surface sediments' load and subsidence characteristics. Therefore, understanding the soil's settlement pressure and load-carrying capacity beneath rubber-tracked vehicles is critical to maximizing their performance and establishing sustainable operating techniques. Main research work includes:

The composition and working principle of the crawler transmission are analyzed, laying the foundation for a more in-depth study of the track-soil interaction model and soil mechanics. The physical properties of soil mechanics are examined, including soil composition, moisture content, densification, settlement, shear resistance, etc., which are crucial to evaluating subsidence, traction, mobility, strength, and control mechanisms in real situations. Design optimization strategies and explore terrain mapping and soil characterization technologies to improve vehicle performance and efficiency. Simulation and modeling techniques are studied in depth to predict vehicle performance in various soil conditions, assist in designing improvements and operating strategies, and emphasize standard laboratory testing of soil properties. It provides a solid foundation for further research on the relationship between tracked vehicles and various types of soil. This paper aims to enhance track design and simulation through experimental analysis and computational modeling to facilitate the development of more durable and versatile tracked vehicles.

The basic principles of vehicle engineering are discussed, and a tracked vehicle with superior maneuverability and traction is selected as the research object. Complex simulation techniques and design requirements analysis are delved into to improve track vehicle performance and reliability in real-world situations. A track-mounted hydraulic and electronic system design is proposed by analyzing the complex relationship between rubber trackpad width, structural design and simulation methods, track geometry, material properties, and terrain dynamics. The selection of control valve banks, proportional valves and amplifiers, and integrated sensor technology for effectively monitoring tracked vehicles are discussed. In addition, a comprehensive discussion was conducted on designing hardware and power system circuit diagrams and integrating electronic control systems to ensure the vehicle's effective operation and performance optimization.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were employed to conduct soil mechanics, sediment soil parameters, and microstructural analysis to determine the feasibility of simulating deep-sea sediment with bentonite and diatomite, as well as to delve into the ability of soil to bear the load applied by rubber tracked vehicles. This paper analyzes the settlement pressure and bearing capacity of simulated marine sedimentary soils, including bentonite and diatoms, in a controlled experimental environment and based on a settlement pressure model. The study explores the complex relationship between soil and track, using moisture sensors, pressure sensors, and cone penetration testing (CPT) to enhance understanding of pressure settlement correlations by considering key variables such as moisture levels and soil composition. Experimental tests in different soil environments fully demonstrated the walking conditions of the crawler vehicle, further explored the impact of varying vehicle speeds on the performance of the crawler vehicle, and provided a research basis for the behavior of off-road rubber track vehicles. The test results show that as the moisture content of bentonite and diatomite increases, the soil surface's settlement depth and pressure distribution increase, consistent with the Bekker pressure settlement equation and the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. When the moisture content is 30%, the settlement depths of bentonite and diatomaceous earth under pressures of 48.5 kPa and 54.5 kPa are 32 mm and 42 mm, respectively.