A novel multi-scale numerical model for prediction of texture-related impacts on fuel consumption

Mansura, Dmytro; Thom, Nicholas; Beckedahl, Hartmut

Abstract

It is estimated that to overcome rolling resistance (RR) a typical vehicle, on average, consumes 4152 MJ/119 L of fuel annually, depending not only on vehicle-related factors but also on pavement-related factors. A slight improvement in surface properties may thus decrease fuel consumption, bringing substantial long-term socioeconomic benefits per capita per country. This aligns with ever-tighter limits on CO2 in the European Union (95 g/km until 2021), fostering sustainable construction and exploitation of tires and pavements. This paper outlines a newly developed multiscale three-dimensional numerical methodology to quantify texture-dependent RR due to indentation of aggregates into viscoelastic tread compound. It consists of a microscale tread block single-aggregate model and a macroscale car tire finite element model, rolling in a steady-state mode over a rigid smooth surface. Microscale interaction rates are deduced from the macroscale model. Tread compound is simulated by application of a time-dependent, linear, viscoelastic model. The microscale simulations enabled quantification of RR induced by an arrangement of surface aggregates. The outlined texture-dependent RR estimates are based on contact force moment around the contact patch center. The computed contact force results show a significant peak of normal force due to viscoelastic and inertia effects at the onset of the tire–surface contact phase, followed by a gradually decreasing/relaxing stress region with a sudden release at the end of the interaction. The contact forces seem to be of a reasonable distribution and magnitude. The proposed approach allows prediction of RR losses due to compressive forces at the microscale. Macro-distortional RR (which is not the subject of this paper) would then have to be added to find the total tire-related RR.

Citation

Mansura, D., Thom, N., & Beckedahl, H. (2017). A novel multi-scale numerical model for prediction of texture-related impacts on fuel consumption. Tire Science and Technology, 45(1), https://doi.org/10.2346/tire.17.450104

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2018
• Journal: Tire Science & Technology
• Electronic ISSN: 0090-8657
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2346/tire.17.450104
• Keywords: rolling resistance, tread block, hemispherical aggregate, multiscale model, vertical velocity, contact mechanics, fuel consumption
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/830801
• Publisher URL: http://tiresciencetechnology.org/doi/10.2346/tire.17.450104