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National Metal and Materials Technology Center
A prototype wave protection flap for the R600 8X8 Amphibious Armored Vehicle
The armored vehicle is an important military asset for ground operations. It plays a vital role in rapidly and safely transporting troops in diverse terrains and weather conditions. With its versatile capabilities, the amphibious armored vehicle is highly maneuverable and crucial for defending the sovereignty and security of a country. For an amphibious armored vehicle with distinctive capabilities, having the ability to move both in water and on land means that it can be effectively utilized in military amphibious warfare. Generally, these vehicles are equipped with water jets for propulsion in water and wave protection flaps installed at the front of the vehicle to enable movement in water.
The R600 8×8 Amphibious Armored Vehicle is designed by Panus Innovation Co., Ltd. with the expertise of Thai engineers to meet the requirements of the Royal Thai Marine Corps and Royal Thai Navy. The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) also contributed to the design by providing knowledge in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was utilized to determine the optimal shape and angle of the wave protection flap installed at the front of the vehicle, enabling it to move efficiently in water. By incorporating advanced engineering principles, the R600 8×8 Amphibious Armored Vehicle achieves higher speed and stability on water, reducing total resistance by approximately 38% compared to the original design. This allows the vehicle to move faster in water while using the same engine power under the same conditions.
MTEC has successfully developed the wave protection flap for the R600 8×8 Amphibious Armored Vehicle by utilizing computational simulations and physical prototypes. The results obtained from the fluid dynamics simulations and the dimensions of the wave protection flap were used as supporting data for certification by the Committee for Defense Equipment Standards, Ministry of Defense. The prototype was certified according to the Ministry of Defense’s standard for armored vehicles on March 25, 2021. This prototype was successfully tested and developed into a commercial product. The wave protection flap uses hydraulic system controlled by digital technology, allowing the vehicle to move up and down while in use on both water and land. It has good water resistance and can reach a maximum speed of 12 kilometers per hour on water.
Research team
Dr.Atipong Malatip, Dr.Somboon Otarawanna, Nitouch Panoon and Chaiwiwat Kayoontammarong
