Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 17 Sept 2018

Wide-Base Tire-Building Process and Design Optimization Using Finite Element Analysis

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Page Range: 242 – 259
DOI: 10.2346/tire.18.460405
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ABSTRACT

The wide-base tire is a relatively new design that originated to replace dual tires because of its potential for improved performance. However, during the construction process, the wide-base tire is more likely to experience tread deformation and uneven stress distribution. The goal of this study is to incorporate numeric techniques for the construction and design optimization of a wide-base, heavy vehicle, pneumatic tire. First, four conditions of the tire (385/55R22.5)–building process, including gluing of components on the main drum, gluing of components on the auxiliary drum, green tire, and finalizing the capsule vulcanizing machine, were simulated using finite element analysis. Second, to solve the difference in the tire's (435/50R19.5) material distribution between the real manufactured structure and the theoretical structure, the curved surface drum-building method and the parameters of the curved surface drum were determined by tire construction simulation. In this article, we present the method for collecting tire material, the measurement process, the analysis method, some general results, and statistics on the wide-base tire. Finally, validation of results of the simulation and measurement are given.

Keywords: wide-base tire; construction design; tire-building simulation; 0° cap plies winding; FEA
FIG. 1
FIG. 1

I dumbbell-shaped sample.

FIG. 2
FIG. 2

Stress-strain curve of uncured rubber.

FIG. 3
FIG. 3

Relaxation modulus curve of uncured rubber.

FIG. 4
FIG. 4

Generalized Maxwell element.

FIG. 5
FIG. 5

Fitting of relaxation modulus using generalized Prony model.

FIG. 6
FIG. 6

Fitting of stress-strain behavior using Marlow model.

FIG. 7
FIG. 7

Gluing of tire components on the main drum.

FIG. 8
FIG. 8

Gluing of tire components on the auxiliary drum.

FIG. 9
FIG. 9

Building process of green tire.

FIG. 10
FIG. 10

Shaping process of green tire.

FIG. 11
FIG. 11

Comparison of three structure material distribution.

FIG. 12
FIG. 12

Location of thickness comparison of rubber compounds.

FIG. 13
FIG. 13

Technology of 0° cap plies winding.

FIG. 14
FIG. 14

Unevenness in tire cavity.

FIG. 15
FIG. 15

Shaping process of green tire with plane drum.

FIG. 16
FIG. 16

Position change of third belt with plane drum.

FIG. 17
FIG. 17

Design parameters of curved surface building drum.

FIG. 18
FIG. 18

Gluing of tread compounds in curved surface drum.

FIG. 19
FIG. 19

Shaping process of green tire with curved surface drum.

FIG. 20
FIG. 20

Position change of the third belt with curved surface drum.

FIG. 21
FIG. 21

Cords force compassion of two schemes.

FIG. 22
FIG. 22

Section structure of sample tire.

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