Experimental verification and finite element modeling of radial truck tire under static loading

Abstract

Based on taking comprehensively into account the actual structure of the radial truck tire, including the contact non-linearity boundaries, such as tire-rim and tire-road interactions, an axisymmetric model and a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element tire model having four circumferential ribs are constructed in this investigation. With the aid of ABAQUS finite element analysis code, the static vertical loading procedure of the tire is simulated. The relationship between vertical load and vertical deflection, the contact patches with pressure distribution obtained by pressure-sensing pad experiment and finite element modeling are exhibited in this paper. It is shown that the results predicted by simulation are in good agreement with those of experiment. Moreover, the forces of belts and carcass obtained from finite element model are also presented when the tire is subjected to vertical load and contacted with rigid road. The reliability of the proposed finite element tire model and analysis methodology is verified.