PAVEMENT-TIRE CONTACT PATCH EFFECTS ON AIR VOLUME USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract

The investigation into the noise generated by automotive tires delves into various mechanisms, such as tire vibration, adhesion, and the notably significant air-pumping mechanism. This particular mechanism stems from the rapid compression and expulsion of air within the tire-pavement contact patch, a result of the deformation of the tire tread. The study employs the finite element method to scrutinize tire deformation and quantify the air volume at the contact patch, forming the primary objective of the research. To benchmark the composite pneumatic tire model, vertical stiffness and footprint tests are conducted on the pneumatic tire. The validation of the automotive tire model reveals an average error of 6.47% for vertical displacement and 15.89% for footprint area. Additionally, variations in vertical load and inflation pressure are examined to observe their impact on air volume. The study proposes a mathematical model illustrating the relationship between air volume, vertical load, and inflation pressure. This mathematical model is deemed valuable and holds potential applications for reducing air-pumping noise in future endeavors.