Computer Tire Simulation for Automobile Handling

Abstract A numerical computer tire model is introduced to simulate the pneumatic tire properties for vehicle handling in transient operating conditions. An existing simple tire model with rigid carcass is expanded to represent the performance characteristics of a tire in non steady state conditions. The simple spokes tire model is developed by the introduction of lateral, longitudinal, radial and circumfrential elasticity of the real pneumatic tire carcass. The analysis establishes the force and moment response of the developed spokes tire model that represented by many radial trade elements and carcass elements in lateral, radial and circumfrential directions, elastically supported to the rigid wheel hub of the model. The analysis is also confined to normal tire operations such that it is permissible to assume lateral and vertical oscillation and their combinations, for normal model wheel hub angular rotation. Computer programs are designed using the new developed model analysis for ordinary personal computer. The calculated tire model forces and aligning torque are represented in a loop form for a sinusoidal lateral slip angles inputs. The generated results of the developed transient tire models are discussed. The various calculated predictions are also checked against the background of the experienced behavior of transient tire characteristics. The results also show that the relaxation phenomenon of the real tire is an important improvement achieved by introducing the carcass flexibility to the simple tire model. The model in the matured form is introduced as a useful tool for simulating actual tire characteristics for transient vehicle analysis and for more understanding to the tire behavior in case of shimmy, axial tramp and vertical oscillations.