Predicting Useful Life of Green Tires through Different Methodologies
One consideration when evaluating materials is the length of time over which they can be used, also called useful life. This is a complex question, especially for new green tire tread rubber compounds using silica as the main reinforcing filler that results in lower fuel consumption. The current work presents a critical approach of three methodologies used for predicting the useful life of different tire tread compositions. The methodologies considered were Arrhenius; Williams, Landel, and Ferry (WLF); and crack growth propagation. Different temperatures, strains, and mechanical properties were analyzed to evaluate the differences between the useful life of the new green tire tread and the carbon black reinforced reference one. Results showed different useful life for each evaluated property. Moreover, each tire tread composition presented a different useful life for the same property, while the silica reinforced composition presented a lower useful life when compared with the reference one.ABSTRACT
WLF prediction for the conventional and green tire tread for (a and b) hardness and (c and d) modulus at 100% tested at 60 °C (◊), 80 °C (□), and 100 °C (▵).
WLF prediction for the conventional and GT tread for (a and b) elongation at break and (c and d) tensile strength tested at 60 °C (◊), 80 °C (□), and 100 °C (▵).
Loss of elongation at break vs time for the conventional tire tread at different temperatures.
Arrhenius useful life prediction for (a) tensile strength and (b) elongation at break.
Arrhenius useful life prediction for (a) modulus at 100% and (b) hardness.
WLF and Arrhenius comparison for the useful life at 40 °C, 50% loss property for (a) the conventional tire tread and (b) green tire tread.
Crack propagation for the two tire compounds evaluated at (a) 40% and (b) 50% strain.
Failure properties of the different compounds tested.
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