Modeling and Analysis of Non-Pneumatic Tires for Military Wheeled Vehicles

Abstract

Tire plays and important role in handling and stability of vehicles. Pneumatic tires are in use since more than a century, however they have certain limitations due to use of air. Loss of air, caused by puncture or in worse case a tire burst, can instigate severe instabilities for vehicles resulting in loss of precious lives and damage to expensive equipment. It may also severely affect availability of vehicles during military operational and civil rescue missions. Non-pneumatic tires (NPTs) have excellent potential of replacing pneumatic tires due to exclusion of these limitations. In this thesis, steady state cornering characteristics of a NPT with hexagonal lattice spokes is studied using finite element modeling and simulation. Cornering of the NPT is performed at various slip angles under different loads. Cornering characteristics of the NPT calculated through finite element analysis (FEA) are compared with those of a pneumatic tire of similar size. Results of the FEA show that analyzed NPT has higher cornering stiffness than the pneumatic tire. NPT characteristics obtained through FEA are used in a commercial vehicle dynamics software to study it effects on handling and stability of vehicle. Dynamic behavior of vehicles with non-pneumatic and pneumatic tire is simulated and compared through standard vehicle testing procedures. Results of vehicle test procedures indicate a significant improvement in handling of vehicle due to use of NPTs. This study can assist in handling and availability oriented selection of tires for military wheeled vehicles.