A Strain-Based Method to Estimate Longitudinal Force for Intelligent Tires by Using a Physics-Based Model

Abstract

Tires are essential components of vehicles and the only vehicle components in contact with the road. The tire longitudinal force originating from the contact between the tire and road can enhance traction and braking and contribute to the directional stability of vehicles. If the longitudinal tire force can be accurately estimated, vehicle safety can be improved. This study established a longitudinal tire physics-based model combining the brush model with the flexible ring model to develop a strain-based intelligent tire system for estimating the longitudinal tire force. The developed longitudinal dynamic model was used to study tire strain characteristics under pure longitudinal slip conditions. An algorithm was developed for estimating the longitudinal tire force through feature extraction and data fitting of the tire strain. A finite-element tire model was established to simulate the longitudinal force. Comparing the simulated and estimated forces indicated that the proposed algorithm can accurately predict the longitudinal force of intelligent tires and thus provide useful information to vehicle stability control systems.