MODELING HYPERPLASTIC ELASTOMER MATERIALS USED IN TIRE COMPOUNDS: NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Analyzing the rubber components of a tire, including the tread and sidewall, is crucial for assessing tire performance attributes. This evaluation enhances vehicle dynamics control and safety levels. Both finite element analysis and experimental tests are employed in this study to achieve accurate estimations. This study centers on Iraqi-manufactured tread and sidewall tires while delving into specific Dunlop components like tread and sidewalls. A highly effective methodology has been developed to ascertain material properties through experimental analysis of hyperelastic rubber models in tires. This approach is executed using ABAQUS, a widely employed commercial finite element software. Addressing rubber's intricate and diverse interactions through a straightforward yet precise phenomenological model holds immense industrial significance. Creating universally applicable design principles for these components remains a persistent challenge in modern industry. This study utilizes simulations to analyze stress-strain responses and compute material parameters for hyperelastic rubber models under tensile loading, employing computer-aided engineering (CAE) to represent stress-strain behavior, especially with varying strain amplitudes comprehensively. Focusing on elastomers, the study assesses the Ogden, Mooney-Rivlin, and reduced polynomial models by extracting coefficients from laboratory tests. It combines experimental and numerical methods to establish validated material constants. Most models yield reasonable results with acceptable deviations. The Neo-Hookean model is the simplest, fitting data up to 30% strain. The moderately complex Mooney-Rivlin and reduced polynomial models accommodate strains up to 100%. While accurate, the Ogden model exhibits higher nonlinearity and increased computational demands based on the material parameters.