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Virginia Tech

Multi-Length Scale Modeling of Rubber Tribology For Tire Application

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Tire, or in its primitive form, Wheel, an important invention for the transportation sector, has evolved from a circular block of hard and durable material to one of the most complex and influential components of an automobile. It is the only means of contact between the vehicle and the road and is responsible for generating forces and moments that impact vehicle performance, stability, and control. Tire tribology is the study of interacting surfaces in relative motion which includes friction and wear. Tire friction is an essential concept for estimating the tractive effort/ traction at the tire-road interface that further helps to determine the control and stability of the vehicle. In contrary, it also results in rolling resistance and wear. Tire and vehicle engineers are henceforth interested in a robust and efficient approach towards estimation of friction and wear. Past experimental observations using tread compound samples have revealed the different factors influencing the friction at the contacting interface. In addition, different mechanisms or components resulting in frictional losses, being Hysteretic, Adhesive and Viscous, and wear being abrasive, fatigue, adhesive and corrosive were also observed. Although experimental and empirical observations have provided us with an accurate estimation of friction and wear parameters, it is very tedious and expensive approach. Recent developments in the computational power encouraged researchers and engineers towards evolution of analytical and numerical models considering the underlying physical mechanisms at the contact interface. Past research studies developed multiscale techniques for estimation of friction coefficient due to hysteretic losses from internal damping of the rubber material because of oscillation from surface undulations. Later, contact mechanics models developed using Hertzian technique or stochastic approach were considered in conjunction with frictional losses to obtain the hysteretic component of friction to consider the effect of surface roughness. Previous studies at CenTiRe focused on surface characterization techniques and estimation of friction for dry surfaces using Persson and Klüppel's approach. Comparative studies unveiled the importance of considering pressure/ normal load towards friction estimation. In addition, it was found that effect of adhesion for estimation of contact mechanics parameters must be considered. The present work focusses on obtaining a conceptual framework to model a comprehensive friction model considering the effect of surface roughness, substrate condition and asperity interaction. A finite element simulation of rubber block sliding on a rough substrate is performed using a multiscale technique for estimation of friction and contact mechanics under dry condition. The estimated contact mechanics and friction is compared with analytical models and experimental measurements obtained using Linear sliding friction tester developed in collaboration with other members of the group. In addition, a FE model is developed to measure the wear properties of rubber material based on continuum damage mechanics and further obtain the wear profile of a rubber block sliding on a rough substrate.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2019

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Vadakkeveetil, Sunish
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Taheri, Saied
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Ferris, John B.
  • Shakiba, Maryam
  • Sandu, Corina
  • Warhadpande, Anurag

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:22471
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/103030

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Vadakkeveetil, Sunish. Multi-Length Scale Modeling of Rubber Tribology For Tire Application. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/103030