FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS of TIRE-SNOW INTERACTION WITH ADDITION of STUDS

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of studded tires on tire-snow interaction through finite element analysis. Studded tires are widely used to improve traction on snowy roads, but the effect of the studs on tire behavior and performance has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, a coupled Lagrangian deformable tire interacting with an Eulerian deformable snow model was implemented. In addition, and in order to validate the tire model a series of multiple steps simulation procedures such as tire-rim assembly, tire inflation and tire loading on rigid road have been conducted. Furthermore, the tire has been modeled according to the existing radial tire structural detail with the addition of studs. On the other hand, snow has been modeled and validated according to the modified Drucker-Prager cap model while both the studded and non-studded tires have been modeled with the interaction of snow model. Finally the results were validated with some experimental data provided from previous works. The study found that the studded tire was able to significantly improve traction on snow-covered roads by a minimum factor of 1.17 at -50% slip and a maximum factor of 1.5 at an interval of 50% to 100% slip, compared to non-studded tire, and that the FEA model accurately predicted the tire's behavior in these conditions. The results of this study can be used to optimize the design of studded tires and to improve the safety of vehicles in snowy conditions. Additionally, this research suggests a solution to the issues with studded tires by analyzing current designs and presenting a new design for a retractable stud mechanism that can be utilized for a diverse range of tires.