Dynamic characteristics analysis and optimization of track-soil interaction based on DEM-MBD coupling method

The study of coupling modeling between tracked chassis and terrain is of great significance for virtual-physical mapping and intelligent design. This paper establishes a high-precision simulation model for track-soil interaction based on the coupling of discrete element method (DEM) and multi-body dynamics(MBD). The model's reliability was validated through experiments, and the coupling behavior between the track and soil was thoroughly investigated. Based on the validated model, the response surface method was used to reveal the influence of key structural parameters, such as grouser height and track width, and motion parameters, such as sprocket speed and pre-tension force, on the chassis performance. To enable intelligent optimization of tracked chassis performance, a nonlinear surrogate model based on neural networks was developed, and multi-objective optimization was carried out using the genetic algorithm. The optimization results indicate that, while maintaining traction performance, the driving torque was reduced by 17.38 %, soil sinkage was reduced by 41.38 %, and the increase in track tension was controlled within 14.94 %. The proposed optimization strategy based on intelligent algorithms significantly improves the comprehensive performance of the tracked chassis in terms of energy consumption, terrain adaptability, and system reliability, offering valuable insights for the intelligent design of construction machinery.