Effect of spoke design and material nonlinearity on non-pneumatic tire stiffness and durability performance

TL;DR

This study investigates how spoke design and nonlinear polyurethane material properties influence the stiffness and durability of non-pneumatic tires using FEM simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a combined analysis of spoke design and material nonlinearity effects on tire performance, comparing three configurations including a new UPTIS design.

Findings

Mooney Rivlin 5-parameter model best captures PU material nonlinearity.

Optimal spoke design and nonlinear material combination improves tire stiffness and durability.

Material nonlinearity significantly affects spoke damage prediction and overall tire performance.

Abstract

Non-pneumatic tire has been widely used due to their advantages of no run-flat, no need of air maintenance, low rolling resistance, and improvement of passengers comfort due to its better shock absorption. It has variety of application in the military vehicle, earthmovers, lunar rover, stair climbing vehicles etc. Recently UPTIS (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) non pneumatic tire has been introduced for passenger vehicles. In this study three different design configuration Tweel, Honeycomb and newly developed UPTIS have been compared. Effect of Polyurethane (PU) material nonlinearity have also been introduced by applying 5 different nonlinear PU material property in the spokes. The combined analysis of the PU material nonlinearity and spoke design configuration on the overall tire stiffness and spoke damage prediction is analysed using 3-Dimensional FEM simulations performed in ANSYS 16.0. It has been observed that Mooney Rivlin 5-parameter model is best to capture all 5 studied PU materials the nonlinearity. Effect of material nonlinearity on various spoke designs have been studied. The best combination of spoke design and the use of nonlinear material have been suggested in terms of riding comfort, tire stiffness and durability performance.