STATIC TYRE ROAD INTERACTION MODELING

The understanding, modelling and predicting of tyre behavioural charac teristics, for both static and dynamic applications, requires the cons ideration of many detailed aspects of this seemingly simple component. In order to investigate the problem more fully, computer analysis tec hniques are becoming more common than the simplifications associated w ith analytical methods. The finite element method is one such techniqu e that enables engineers to examine tyre behaviour comprehensively and to predict tyre performance at the design stage. In this paper, atten tion is drawn to the problem of tyre/road interaction modelling. A pur ely theoretical approach is presented which gives the analyst more fle xibility in changing parameters such as inflation pressure, hub load, and material properties than previously developed experimental/numeric al techniques. A gap element formulation is used to model the interact ion so that contact patch area, shape and deflection are automatically accounted for under a given load and inflation pressure. Modelling an d experimental results are also presented to illustrate the accuracy o f the technique.