A Tool for Tire Handling Performance Evaluation

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the past, handling performance of the tire–vehicle combination has been evaluated using tire models such as the Pacejka Magic Formula. These models usually lack realistic representation of tire–road interaction and are not suitable for combined steering and braking maneuvers that may activate the antilock braking system. The objective of this study is to develop a computationally simple and accurate tire model, which can be used in the development and evaluation of handling performance of the tire on uneven road surfaces. For an emergency obstacle avoidance maneuver at high speeds, transient tire behavior plays a crucial role in the generation of forces between tire and road. Road undulations and steering inputs both induce high-frequency tire belt vibrations, which have detrimental effects on the handling and tractive behavior of the tire. To meet these requirements, a dynamic six degrees of freedom tire model–based rigid ring approach is developed and integrated with a multiple tandem elliptical cam to include enveloping behavior of the tire. The tire model that is developed in this research is partially based on the work of Schmeitz found in the literature. The tire model was parameterized using experimental parameters found in the literature. The tire model is validated using fixed axle high-speed oblique cleat experimental data. The developed tire model is integrated with the vehicle model in CarSim®. From the simulation of successive step steering input, the increasing influence of tire belt vibrations at higher slip angles was observed due to sudden steering wheel inputs. From the simulation of the step steering input on the bad asphalt road surface with an added cleat and on the flat smooth road surface, it was observed that the lateral performance of the tire at higher slip angles is strongly influenced by the vertical load variations. A single lane change maneuver was simulated on the smooth and bad asphalt road surfaces, demonstrating the strong influence of tire lateral and vertical belt vibrations on the lateral performance of the vehicle. Simulation of high-speed emergency obstacle avoidance braking maneuvers on measured rough and smooth roads showed that the influence of high-frequency vibrations due to road undulations and step steering inputs causes large variations of longitudinal and lateral forces at the axle, thus creating large variations in slip and slip angle of the tire with a degraded braking distance on rough roads.