This paper describes a method of vehicle performance prediction which adapts readily to digital programming. A prime mover which may be a gas turbine or a reciprocating internal combustion engine, a hydraulic torque converter, and/or a mechanical transmission, comprising the vehicle drive train, are transformed into numerical equivalents. The performance prediction itself is in three major parts, namely, the engine-converter compatibility, the converter range performance, and the lockout or direct drive performance. The computer transforms the engine data into equation form by curve fitting; predicts the optimum shift point as the intersection of the net tractive effort in converter drive with net tractive effort in direct drive; calculates; stores; interpolates; and prints a complete set of data.
