Mesh generation considering detailed tread blocks for reliable 3D tire analysis

Abstract

Tire tread is composed of many grooves and blocks in complex pattern for the sake of the major tire running performances, but the 3D tire analysis has been performed conventionally by either neglecting tread blocks or modeling only circumferential grooves. As a result, such simplified analyses lead to considerably poor numerical expectations. In this context, this paper addresses an effective mesh generation procedure for 3D automobile tires in which the detailed tread blocks with variable anti-skid depth are fully considered. Tire body and tread pattern meshes are constructed separately in the beginning, and then both are to be assembled by the incompatible tying method. Detailed pattern mesh is inserted either partially or fully depending on the analysis purpose. Through the tire contact analysis, we verified that the meshing technique introduced does not cause any meshing error and the detailed tire mesh expects the contact pressure more consistent with the experimental results.