Abstract
The grip force of tires is crucial for vehicle security and drivability under different driving conditions. A small contact area and stress concentration in the contact patch of two-wheeled motorcycle (TWM) tires result in a reduction in grip performance and wear resistance. Even worse, improving the grip and wear resistance together is difficult to achieve. The purpose of the current study is to analyze the dynamic grounding characteristics and geometry of a cat paw pad and then apply its structure to the TWM tire to improve the contact area and wear resistance under different operating conditions. A nonlinear finite element tire model that could accurately reconstruct the tire structure and realistically reflect the mechanical response to different loads was employed. Then, the accuracy of the tire model was validated by a static test with a control tire. For cats, the dynamic grounding characteristics and topology of paw pads were determined using a pressure-sensitive walkway and a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner. The results indicated that the cat forepaw third pad (CFTP) exhibited excellent grip capacity. According to similarity transformation, a bionic tire crown was designed according to the lateral fitting curve of the CFTP. Comparative results showed the enlargement of the contact area and decreases in peak pressure and frictional energy rate for the bionic tire under different conditions. With these improvements, the grip performance was improved, and the service life was extended synchronously. These research results can be applied for the design of TWM tires, especially cross-country motorcycle tires.
Highlights
As the only components that are in contact with roads, tires play a crucial role in the transmission of groundvehicle forces
To improve the grip and wear resistance of a two-wheeled motorcycle tire together, we explore a novel tire crown inspired by a cat paw pad
According to the similarity transformation principle, a tire crown is proposed based on the fitting curve of the cat forepaw third pad (CFTP) lateral cross-section
Summary
As the only components that are in contact with roads, tires play a crucial role in the transmission of groundvehicle forces. The interface between the road and the tire is responsible for many tire performance aspects, such as wear resistance and grip [1]. There is a conflict between grip and wear resistance performances. That is, improved grip performance means a reduction in wear resistance to some extent and vice versa [2]. The interaction at the contact patch is a complex mechanical problem, and the distribution of contact stress is affected by the vehicle’s operating conditions, load, road characteristics, tire structure and geometry, and other factors [3]. The deterioration of grip performance may lead to traffic accidents [4]
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