Rolling Resistance Estimation for PCR Tyre Design Using the Finite Element Method

Abstract

This study presents rolling resistance estimation in the design process of passenger car radial (PCR) tyre by using finite element method. The rolling resistance coefficient of tyres has been becoming one of main requirements within the regulation in many countries as it is related to the level of allowable exhaust gas emission generated by vehicle. Therefore, the tyre being designed must be digitally simulated using finite element method before the tyre is manufactured to provide a high confident level and avoid unnecessary cost related to failure physical product testing. The simulation firstly computes the deformation of several alternative designs of tyres under certain loading, and then the value of deformation force in each tyre component during deformation took place is calculated. The total force of deformation is considered as energy loss or hysteresis loss resulted in tyre rolling resistance. The experiment was carried out on three different tyre designs: two grooves, three grooves, and four grooves. The four groove tyre design gave the smallest rolling resistance coefficient (RRC). Finally, the simulation was continued to compare different crown radius of the tyres and the result shows that the largest crown radius generates the lowest rolling resistance.