Investigation of the vibration characteristics of radial tires using experimental and numerical techniques

Abstract

A 3D finite element model of modal analysis has been established based on MSC.MARC software according to the practical structure of 195/60R14 radial tire. The rebar model is employed to simulate complex multilayer rubber-cord composites. The model considers the geometric non-linearity and the non-linear boundary conditions from tire-rim contact and tire-road contact. The modal test systems are developed for the free suspension tire and the grounding tire. The vibration characteristics of the radial tire are studied numerically and experimentally. Mode shapes (lobes) of the radial vibration are in a strong regularity with the change of the mode order. The first mode shape has two lobes, the second mode shape has three lobes, and so on. Changes of the inflation pressure do not affect the mode shape, but the natural frequency of higher mode shape is sensitive to the change of the inflation pressure. The mode shapes of the grounding tire become asymmetric due to the effect of the vertical load, and the frequency of each mode has a mutation when the vertical load is larger than 3000 N. It is in good agreement between the FEA and experimental results of the free suspension tire.