Theory of Land Locomotion: The Mechanics of Vehicle Mobility

Theory of Land Locomotion is a comprehensive source of the information now available on the relations between a motor vehicle and the physical environment in which it operates. It lays the foundation for a new type of applied mechanics by systematizing the accumulated experience of men who have worked closely with automotive problems over the past forty years--engineers, designers, technicians, and production men. The result is an integrated theory of land locomotion that will advance land transportation much as aerodynamics and hydrodynamics have helped the development of air and sea travel. Placing particular emphasis on off-the-road vehicles, the book discusses in detail problems of soil and snow mechanics; size-form relationships as an index of economy; terrain conditions; the process of moving tracks, skis, sleds, toboggans, rigid wheels, and pneumatic tires; static and dynamic behavior; and dimensional analysis, testing, and overall economy.