Mechanics of the Pneumatic Tire. Part II. The Laminar Model under Inflation and in Rotation

Abstract

Difficulties in the study of the tire are presented by the materials used in tire construction, specifically the problem of achieving a convenient representation of the elastic characteristics of the rubberized fabric. Notable progress has been made in the formulation of the theory of combined orthotropic laminae which includes the contribution of the rubber compound and, more importantly, the effects of combining layers or plies having different characteristics. The laminar model of the tire is of particular interest for the study of the radial tire in which the effect of the carcass‐belt combination is very important. This study first considers the tire under inflation alone and gives illustrative examples of applications to several types of tires. The net model for the bias ply tire is discussed as a special case of the theory. The study is then extended to consideration of the effects of centrifugal force in rotation in addition to inflation pressure.