Development of a multi-physics tire model for wear and thermal estimation in the finite element environment

With today’s abundant computational resources, an essential tool for improving the understanding of vehicle dynamics, tire wear and tire modeling is finite element techniques. For accurate static, steady-state, and dynamic tire mechanics in simulation, a highly accurate tire model needs to be modeled and validated in multiple domains. This research focuses on the modeling and investigation of a slick race tire that is accurately validated against experimental results, can predict tire wear mass in dynamic operations, and is able to predict thermal buildup. The tire used in this research is the Hoosier 18×6.0-10 R25B racing slick. The tire is a custom built, fully solid finite element model using constitutive modeling. The tire model incorporates hyperelastic material modeling and viscoelastic material modeling following the ASTM D412 standard. The materials are mostly composed using the Ogden material definition for the tire components: tread rubber, sidewall, and ply layers. To validate the finite element tire model, varying tests were performed to ensure the simulation model’s behavior is mechanically agreeable to experimental results. A plethora of tests including: contact patch tests at different camber angles, vertical stiffness at different loads, drum cleat test, and rolling resistance test were all performed and compared to experimental datasets. In this research, a dynamic evaluation of tire wear is investigated. A controlled acceleration-deceleration cycle experiment is performed at the Automotive Center of Excellence on a Mustang Dynamometer. The experiment is then replicated in the finite element environment using the validated R25B tire model for wear simulation development. The simulation uses a novel methodology based on Archard’s wear theory that incorporates, temperature, velocity, and hardness tire characteristics. The wear mass of the simulated finite element model is then compared against the experimental tire wear test. In addition, a thermal model is developed for the R25B tire and is validated against the experimental data from the wear test. A thermal model is further extended from the previous work onto a well-defined truck tire model that is validated against experimental data provided by Volvo Group Trucks Technology, in Hällered, Sweden. Finally, a similar wear strategy is discussed for the truck tire.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Ly, Alfonse

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• El-Gindy, Moustafa
• El-Sayegh, Zeinab

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/2011

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/2011