Optimize Design of Run-Flat Tires by Simulation and Experimental Research

Abstract

In this study, the two key factors affecting the thermal performance of the insert rubber and stress distribution on the tire sidewall were analyzed extensively through various performance tests and simulations to promote the development of run-flat tires. Four compounds and two structures of insert rubber were designed to investigate the effects of heat accumulation and stress distribution on durability testing at zero pressure. It was concluded that the rigidity and tensile strength of the compound were negatively correlated with temperature. The deformation was a key factor that affects energy loss, which could not be judged solely by the loss factor. The stress distribution, however, should be considered in order to avoid early damage of the tire caused by stress concentration. On the whole, the careful balance of mechanical strength, energy loss, and structural rigidity was the key to the optimal development of run-flat tires. More importantly, the successful implementation of the simulations in the study provided important and useful guidance for run-flat tire development.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences

“…Liu et al [21] studied the effects of heat accumulation and stress distribution on the run-flat tire sidewall on durability testing at zero pressure. They found that the rigidity and tensile strength of the compound were negatively correlated with temperature.…”

“…The failures of wheels of tipper trucks were related to their rims [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and tires [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. The latter are affected by the age of tires [35][36][37][38] and the tire-road friction coefficient [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]…”

Study on the Effect of Different Design Parameters of Sidewall Insert Rubber on the Mechanical Characteristics of Self-Supporting Run-Flat Tires

“…J. R. Cho et al designed a generalized multi-objective optimization algorithm to optimize the shape of SIR with different weights [26]. Liu et al analyzed the effect of tire temperature and stress on the zero-pressure driving ability of SSRFTs, by taking into account the material properties of SIR and the shape and dimensions of SIR [27]. Other scholars and tire companies tried new rubber materials for SIR by adding ZnO-treated aramid pulp (AP), TBIR (trans-butadiene-isoprene rubber) material, neodymium-based butadiene rubber, carbon black modified low cis-polybutadiene rubber (LCBR), and so on, to the compound of SIR can enhance the performance of SSRFTs in terms of fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and also improve the rolling resistance, deformation heat generation, and riding comfort [28][29][30][31].…”