Aerodynamic Characteristics of Isolated Loaded Tires with Different Tread Patterns: Experiment and Simulation

Abstract

The current research of tire aerodynamics mainly focus on the isolated and simplified tread tire. Compared with the real complex pattern tire, the tread pattern structure and deformed profile of a loaded tire has a greatly influence on tire aerodynamic drag. However, the mechanisms of the isolated loaded tires with different tread patterns effects on the aerodynamic drag are subjects worthy of discussion. The purpose of this study is to experimentally and computationally investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of three tires 185/65 R14 with different patterns under loaded. A wind tunnel test model was first established using three-dimensional (3D) printing with a ratio of 1:1, and the pressure coefficients Cp of the three tires with different patterns are measured. The paper then conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for analyzing the pressure and flow characteristics. The accuracy of CFD simulation is verified by comparing the simulation results with the test results of pressure coefficients Cp, and they are of good consistency. While, the general analysis of pressure coefficients Cp results of the three tires indicates high-pressure area on the windward surface, and occurrence of low-pressure area on the leeward surface, the pressure coefficients Cp of all three tires decreased firstly and then increased along in the air flow direction. The authors finally analyzed the effect of tread patterns on the flow field around the tire and revealed the differences between flow characteristics and aerodynamic drag. The results show that, angle of tire lateral groove has great effect on the flow field characteristics such that; the more the angle of lateral groove agrees with the air flow direction, the less the flow separation and flow vortices, and a minimum observable aerodynamic drag. The research provides a guidance for the design of low aerodynamic drag tires, and helps to illustrate the impact of tire aerodynamics on the car body in the future.

Study on Aerodynamic Performance and Lightweight Multiobjective Optimization Design of Wheel With Entropy Weighted Grey Relational Analysis Methods

“…According to formula (18), EGRA sorting can be performed to obtain optimal solution for comprehensive performance. The design with the highest EGRA value represents the best overall performance.…”

“…Zhang L X. et al [17] analyzed the influence of the tire profile on the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle, established a parametric model based on the tire size parameters, optimized the design parameters of the tire profile, and reduced the aerodynamic resistance. Zhou H C. et al [18] analyzed the influence of tire profile and tread pattern structure on tire aerodynamic performance, studied the load characteristics of different tire pattern structures, and revealed the difference between the flow characteristics and the flow field around the tire. The results show that when the lateral groove angle is in the same direction as the airflow, the tire has less aerodynamic drag.…”

Evaluation of Shear Stress Transport, Large Eddy Simulation and Detached Eddy Simulation for the Flow around a Statically Loaded Tire

“…The surface pressure coefficients were recorded by using an electronic pressure transducer, which includes 2 modules and 128 channels, as shown in Figure 4. There are 15 lateral sections and 4 longitudinal sections in the tire model; each odd lateral section has 7 measuring points, each even lateral section has 6 measuring points, and each longitudinal section has 9 measuring points [25]. The detailed arrangement of pressure measuring points is presented in Figure 5.…”

Investigation of effects of tire contour on aerodynamic characteristics and its optimization

“…The influence of tread pattern grooves on the flow field and aerodynamic drag is revealed by Hobeika and Sebben, 13 the results showed that the edge pattern can induce some small vortices around the contact patch, and these vortices appear to slightly increase the region of flow separation and change the tire drag. Zhou et al 18 carried out the wind tunnel test and CFD simulation to study the influences of the tread pattern of an isolated loaded tire on tire aerodynamic characteristics, and point out that the surface pressure coefficients of the different tread patterns are great different, and the angle of tire transverse grooves has a notable effect on the aerodynamic drag and flow field.…”