Analyzing the interaction mechanism between tire side-slip angle and sidewall flexible deformation using enhanced digital image correlation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The lateral mechanical characteristics of rolling tire is very important to the handling stability and safety of vehicles. Tire side-slip angle is an important parameter of rolling tire lateral dynamics. In this paper, the interaction mechanism of tire side-slip angle on the contact characteristics of rolling tires is studied by combining theoretical analysis and experimental verification, and the deformation mechanism and distribution characteristics of rolling tires are further revealed under the rolling tire side-slip condition. Firstly, the digital image correlation based on absolute node coordinate formula is proposed to calculate the large deformation of rigid and flexible coupling on the sidewall of rolling tire. The identification and separation of large nonlinear flexible deformation of rolling tire sidewall are completed by means of improved digital image correlation. Then, the deformation characteristics and distribution law of the relative principal strain rate and the relative flexible strain rate are calculated by using the developed stereo vision system and the improved digital image correlation under different tire side-slip angles. Finally, the experimental and analytical results show that the contact patch length increases with the increase of the side-slip angle, and gradually tends to stabilisation. The front contact angle and rear contact angle increase asymmetrically with the increase of the side-slip angle.