Numerical simulation of tires - Study of contact pressures

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis of a radially constructed tire in contact with a flat rigid surface using the finite element method. The objective of the work is to study the distribution of contact pressures in the tire. The problem is solved using a kinematic analysis, hyperelastic, viscoelastic materials, compounds and a rigid-flexible contact with friction. The operating conditions considered are: an inflation pressure of 30 PSI, a vertical load of 4000 N and a rotation speed of 80 km/h. Finally, to validate the generated numerical model, comparisons of the numerical results were made with available experimental data. These show that the distribution of the maximum contact pressures and the length of the footprint in both imprints are similar, taking values of 5.6 kg/cm2 and 17 cm respectively.