Fatigue life prediction and influencing factors analysis of mesh flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire

Abstract

A mesh flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire is designed to avoid tire burst and other hidden dangers in the traditional pneumatic tires, and improve driving safety. The purpose of this study is to explore the fatigue performance and fatigue life prediction method of the non-pneumatic tire and analyze the influence of structural parameters on the fatigue life of non-pneumatic tire. Based on the crack propagation method of energy release rate by J-integral, the fatigue life of the meshed flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire is predicted. Using numerical simulation method, the influence of key structural parameters, such as the curvature, unit angle and thickness of the lateral spoke and the tread thickness, on tire fatigue life is studied. The results show that the fatigue life prediction method proposed can be used to predict the fatigue life of flexible spoke non-pneumatic tire, and the fatigue life of non-pneumatic tire with flexible spoke can be improved by selecting appropriate structural parameters, which could provide some reference for the structural optimization design of the fatigue performance of the non-pneumatic tire.