Two-Dimensional Contact Pressure Distribution of a Radial Tire

Abstract

Abstract Two-dimensional contact pressure distribution of a radial tire, statically compressed to a flat roadway, is analyzed using a rectangular contact patch. The tire structure is modeled by a spring-bedded ring belt comprised of a laminated-biased composite strip. The belt is supported by radial springs simulating the sidewall. The spring constant Kr was well defined previously by one of the authors. Deformation of the rectangular flat belt is obtained theoretically. The belt is subjected to inflation pressure, reaction forces transmitted from the spring bed of the tread rubber, and shearing force and bending moment along the belt boundaries brought from side-wall springs and the detached part of the ring belt. In-plane membrane forces, which are not uniform in the contact area, due to the friction forces acting between the tread surface and the roadway are also applied. The resulting contact pressure distributions in the circumferential direction are shown to be convex along the shoulder, but concave along the crown center line. This distribution agrees well with the experimental results.