Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Sept 2007

Inelastic Fracture Mechanics for Tire Durability Simulations4

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Page Range: 239 – 250
DOI: 10.2346/1.2769363
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Abstract

A fully three-dimensional fracture mechanical approach is introduced which may serve as a basis for tire durability simulations utilizing the finite element method. The so-called material force approach is employed as an elegant alternative characterization of the energy release rate or the J-integral to describe discrete cracks. As a vector quantity, it even yields directional information. The method is applicable in the context of finite strains and nonlinear elasticity and inelasticity. Using the shown approach, a physical and efficient modeling of fracture sensitivity of tires is obtained.

Keywords: finite element method; fracture mechanics; material force method; inelastic material properties; durability simulation
Copyright: The Tire Society
FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.

Truck tire failure in drum test and fractured rubber samples.

FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.

Tear fatigue analyzer (TFA).

FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.

Paris plot of rubber compound obtained from tear fatigue testing.

FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.

Definition of physical forces and material forces.

FIG. 5.
FIG. 5.

Computation of basic fracture modes.

FIG. 6.
FIG. 6.

Inelastic processing zone around crack tip: material forces, material body forces, material balance.

FIG. 7.
FIG. 7.

FE model of truck tire with four belts.

FIG. 8.
FIG. 8.

Belt edge location with initial cracks.

FIG. 9.
FIG. 9.

Deformed belt edge location: Mode III loading of crack.

FIG. 10.
FIG. 10.

Evaluation of material forces at belt edge for tire model.

FIG. 11.
FIG. 11.

Distribution of material forces at belt edge in circumferential direction.

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