Finite element modelling of off-road tyres for radial tyre model parameterization

Abstract

This paper investigates the possibility of using a coarse finite element model with bulk material properties, to model the vertical force-displacement characteristics of a tyre, for the purpose of tyre model parameterization. The paper proves the approach on a light truck off-road tyre. The practical application is intended, however, for very large tyres where physical testing is not feasible.The paper indicates that it is feasible to obtain bulk material properties from tensile tests on specimens cut from different positions on a tyre and to use these test results to parameterize suitable non-linear anisotropic material models. The non-linear elements defined in the Neo-Hookean and Ogden models, as well as elements with differing linear orthogonal stiffnesses, are combined with each other to simulate the global material properties of the tread and sidewall of the tyre.The global behaviour of the finite element model is analysed by comparing experimental and simulation data on a flat surface as well as various lateral and longitudinal cleats. The results confirm that the finite element model can predict with acceptable accuracy the vertical force vs. displacement, as well as the sidewall deformation of the tyre under static loading conditions on a flat surface and also on various different cleats, by using equivalent (global) material properties.The approach is accurate enough to be used in the parameterization of various tyre models.

External Tyre Loading Predictions from Inner Tyre Deformation Measurements

“…The equivalent Young's Modulus of the tread, bead, and sidewall regions are each independently varied until the vertical stiffness of the tyre matches that of a laboratory experiment. The final material properties, shown in Table 3.1, are still representative of real material properties found in previous studies Conradie et al, 2016). However, even if these numerical material parameter values turn out to be unrealistic, the study remains valid.…”

Finite element modeling of interaction between non-pneumatic mechanical elastic wheel and soil

“…In most cases, the rubber is assumed as an incompressible superelastic material, and its stress–strain relation takes on a strong nonlinear attribute. In previous studies, several constitutive models such as Ogden model, 25,31 Mooney-Rivlin model, 32 and Yeoh model 33,34 have been employed to represent the relationship of the stress and strain of the rubber material. In this study, the Mooney-Rivlin model provided in ABAQUS is selected to model the rubber material, whose strain potential energy can be defined as follows 11…”

Development of the FEM wheel-soil model for the design of flexible pavements

“…Spatial numerical tyre models are important for mechanical engineers, for example, when special tyre structures are designed [7] or they are used for realistic vehicle models to analyse their dynamic behaviour [8]. FEM model simulates real hyper-elastic behaviour of cord-rubber by using a combination of several types of elements (shell, beam and 3D solid elements) and by using special hyper-elastic and nonlinear material models based on Mooney-Rivlin [9], Ogden or Neo-Hookean material models [10]. The problem of these analyses is to obtain realistic input material properties.…”

“…The problem of these analyses is to obtain realistic input material properties. The experimental measurements and model updating techniques are recommended for this purpose [10].…”