Innovative Material Characterisation Methodology for Tyre Static and Dynamic Analyses 2020-01-1519

In the current work, a methodology is proposed to study the tyre static and dynamic behaviour to estimate its constituents properties based on the measured quasi-static responses of the tyre for certain specific loads. As a first step, a simplified tyre numerical model with standard rubber material properties is modelled that can substantively predict the necessary tyre static responses, i.e. radial, longitudinal and lateral stiffness. These responses are correlated with the physical tyre response that are measured using a kinematic and compliance (K&C) test rig in the laboratory. A Design of Experiments (DoE) study, followed by an optimisation process, is performed by sampling the material properties of the rubbers to simulate the FE model and match the tyre responses accurately. As a final step, the contribution of tyre individual constituent rubber material properties over the tyre modal behaviour is analysed. The DoE study provides an insight into the influence of the constitutive components on the tyre overall behaviour in a wide frequency band and the optimisation technique promises the prediction of the tyre material properties with considerable accuracy.

This work fulfils two main challenges: Firstly, to allow building a finite element (FE) tyre model with minimum possible material information and secondly, to offer an insight into the influence of the various tyre constituent parts over the tyre static and dynamic response.