Cornering Characteristics of a Passenger Car Tire Using Finite Element Analysis

Abstract This paper delves into the cornering characteristics of a passenger car tire on a hard surface across diverse operating conditions. Specifically, it employs finite element analysis to model a 235/55R19 passenger car tire, utilizing multiple layers to simulate the tread, sidewall, cap ply, beads, rim, and carcass. The Mooney-Rivlin material model is utilized to accurately capture the hyperelastic behavior of the tire rubber compound. To ensure precision, the tire model undergoes rigorous verification in both static and dynamic scenarios against manufacturer-provided data. Verification includes assessing longitudinal, lateral, and vertical stiffness, alongside the first mode of vibration. Subsequently, the verified tire model is employed to explore the dynamics of tire-road interaction during cornering maneuvers. This investigation encompasses varying operating conditions such as vertical load (3 kN, 5 kN, and 8 kN), inflation pressure (172 kPa, 228 kPa, 352 kPa), and slip angles (ranging from 0 to 12 degrees). Moreover, the effect of high speed was captured on the cornering stiffness and cornering force. It concluded that the cornering force is very sensitive to the vertical load at large slip angles (higher than 4 degrees). Moreover, it was investigated that the cornering stiffness value is directly affected by the inflation pressure. The outcomes of this research are anticipated to yield valuable insights into the analysis of passenger car tire-road interaction, with implications for further testing and refinement of rubber compound material models.