US Army Begins Testing with World’s Largest Heavy Vehicle Simulator

• The simulator is a critical tool for research, able to simulate ground vehicles, aircraft and rail traffic up to 120,000 pounds
• The US Army Engineer Research and Development center will have expanded capability to test and prove better transportation infrastructure techniques

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) completed assembly on the world’s largest heavy vehicle simulator (HVS), the “Titan,” at the end of January. The HVS is a critical research tool used to evaluate new materials, design methods and construction techniques that can help optimize new infrastructure facilities.

“The Titan is the world's largest HVS and has the unique capacity to simulate ground vehicles, aircraft and rail traffic up to 120,000 pounds,” said ERDC Director Dr. David Pittman, who also serves as chief scientist and director of research and development for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “It was developed in partnership with Dynatest. This new capability expands ERDC's ability to support a wide range of unique military vehicles to help develop better transportation infrastructure solutions.”

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) mission is critically reliant upon its transportation infrastructure, including road networks, bridges, airfields and railroads. Like the aging civilian infrastructure networks, the DOD’s vast infrastructure investment is aging, creating significant budgetary demands in a budget-constrained environment.  Compounding the issue is the evolving and complex configurations of new military and commercial vehicles and aircraft that require innovative transportation facilities to ensure safe operating conditions.

Prior to acquiring the new HVS Titan, the ERDC possessed two aging HVS systems, a small unit HVS designed only for ground vehicle loading and a larger HVS-A designed to simulate ground vehicles, aircraft and rail traffic. ERDC researchers saw the need to replace the larger HVS-A system to enhance and modernize the DOD’s ability to perform meaningful infrastructure research on roads, bridges, airfields and railroads.

“The new HVS Titan includes a total travel span of 75 feet and is capable of applying over 18,000 simulated vehicle passes per day, providing the ability to perform multiple pavement tests simultaneously and maximizing testing efficiency,” Tingle said. “The HVS Titan also includes a unique ability to apply a dynamic impact load to simulate the load induced at aircraft touchdown.  No other heavy vehicle simulator in the world includes this full-scale vertical impact loading capability.”

The HVS Titan is equipped with a climatic control unit capable of maintaining a constant programmable test temperature selected from 20 degrees to 110 degrees. The ability to control test temperature for a wide range of operational conditions ensures the ability to conduct meaningful testing under relevant environmental conditions.

“ERDC’s expanded capability to test and prove better transportation infrastructure techniques will benefit not only our national security, but also states and cities as they ramp up upgrades to highways, bridges, and airports,” U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said.