37th Tire Science and Technology Conference

Akron, 11-12 Sep 2018

Variable Stiffness Approach to

Optimize Tyre Rolling Resistance
Shivam Mangal*, Prasenjit Ghosh, KV Narasimha Rao, R. Mukhopadhyay

* Presenting Author

HASETRI
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Background and Motivation

Share of total U.S. energy used U.S. transportation energy Segment wise transport energy
for transportation, 2017 sources/fuels, 2017 consumption

HASETRI 1 of 16
 Background and Motivation

• A vehicle’s fuel economy – overcoming inertia, driveline friction, road grades,

tyre rolling resistance, air drag etc.

Source: global.yokohamatire.net. Rolling Resistance and Fuel Consumption

Vehicle Category Impact of tyre on vehicle fuel economy

IC Engine

Future generation (electric, Hybrid etc.) Source: EC Regulation 1222/2009 Labelling

HASETRI 2 of 16
 Background and Motivation

• Rolling resistance of tyre has direct impact on fuel economy.

Rolling loss
contributor

Stiffness Volume Dissipation

• Radial tyres are been given more focus due to radialization.

• Paradigm shift in technology is required to meet the future requirement of ultra

low rolling resistance tyres.

HASETRI 3 of 16
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Introduction – Rolling resistance

• Rolling resistance in a tyre can be defined as energy loss per cycle:

𝑅𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑓(𝜎, 𝜀, 𝑉, ta𝑛 𝛿)

Tread 48%
Wingtip 4%
Belt1 3%
Belt2 4%
Rolling resistance
Ply1 7%
PP1 2%
IL 5%
Deformation Dissipation Sidewall 7%
Rimstrip 5%
Filler 12%
Beg 3%
Contribution of rolling energy loss from different
components for typical passenger car tyre 175/65R14

HASETRI 4 of 16
 Introduction – Literature review
Variable stiffness
approach
• Summarized look of researchers on rolling resistance:

Heat Generation Rolling Resistance Deformation Index

Analytical expression Whole tyre hysteresis vs. Introduction of Deformation

for heat generation by Rolling resistance by Pillai et Index(DI) concept by
Oh et al. (1995) al. (1995) Futamura et al. (1991)

Deformation,
Semi-coupled process for Representation of DI
dissipation and thermal
rolling resistance prediction through spring model by
modules by Park et al.
by Ebbot et al. (1999) Mars et al. (2011)
(1997)

Use of subroutine as
replacement of structural and Extension of DI concept for
energy dissipation loop by Non-pneumatic tyre by
Futamura et al. (2004) Gibert et al. (2013)

HASETRI 5 of 16
 Introduction – Deformation index (DI)

• Deformation index – measure of sensitivity of energy loss due to deformation.

log(𝑄1 /𝑄0 )
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝑚 =
log(𝐺 ′1 /𝐺 ′ 0 )

Deformation State

Equal strain Equal energy Equal stress

DI > 0 DI = 0 DI < 0

Mode of Energy loss on stiffness

deformation increase

Energy loss under cyclic deformation for different state of deformation Equal strain

Equal energy

Equal stress

HASETRI 6 of 16
 Deformation index

Equal strain Equal energy Equal stress

Tyre Tyre size
(%) (%) (%)

Tyre A
175/65 R 14 8.4 42.5 49.1
Passenger car radial

Tyre B
10.00 D 20 5.5 26.9 67.6
Truck cross-ply

Tyre C
10.00 R 20 8.2 52.1 39.7
Truck radial

Contribution of deformation mode for various types of tyre.

HASETRI 7 of 16
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Problem Description

• Objective – Optimization of tyre rolling resistance through the variable stiffness

approach.

Case study: 10.00-20 Truck cross-ply tyre

Deformation index contour for

Initial material distribution
initial material distribution

HASETRI 8 of 16
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Simulation Methodology – Schematic representation
Rolling Resistance simulation with original compound properties

New Rolling Resistance simulation with overall increased modulus

Computation for deformation index

Updation of material properties based on deformation index magnitude

Rolling resistance simulation with the updated modulus and original loss properties

Deformation index computation for the proposed analysis

Check for the equal energy deformation acceptance

No Yes

Rolling Resistance

HASETRI 9 of 16
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Result & Discussion – 10.00-20 cross-ply tyre

Updated material distribution based on deformation index plot

HASETRI 10 of 16
 Result & Discussion – 10.00-20 cross-ply tyre

• Around 10 % of improvement in tyre rolling resistance

• 40 C and 60 C drop in maximum temperature in shoulder and apex region was
observed with the proposed design

(a) (b)

Deformation index contour for 10.00-20 cross ply tyre: (a) base design and (b) proposed design

HASETRI 11 of 16
 Result & Discussion

96.0%
95.0%
0.95
Rolling resistance

91.5%

0.9

0.85

0.8
Passenger car radial (Tyre A) Commercial cross-ply (Tyre B) Commercial Radial (Tyre C)
Normal design Proposed design

HASETRI 12 of 16
 Result & Discussion – Effect of compound

• Deformation index varies with compound properties

Tread Normalized Elastic Normalized

Compound Modulus Viscoelastic Modulus

(a) (b) T1 1 1

T2 0.832 0.236

T3 0.937 0.312
(c) (d)

Deformation index contour comparison between tyre with tread T4 0.934 0.610
compounds: (a) T1, (b) T2, (c) T3, and (d) T4.

Tread compound’s elastic and viscoelastic properties

HASETRI 13 of 16
 Result & Discussion – Design proposals

• Around 10% of improvement in rolling resistance with proposed design based on

the variable stiffness approach

(a) (b) (c)

Material distribution between (a) base design , (b) proposal-1 and (c) proposal-2

(a) (a) (b)

(b) (c)
(c)

Temperature distribution between (a) base design , (b) proposal-1 and (c) proposal-2

HASETRI 14 of 16
 Result & Discussion – Design proposals

• Other performance parameter with in the acceptable range (<5%)

1
Performance Parameters

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4
Rolling Resistance Radial Stiffness Lateral Stiffness Tangential Cornering Stiffness
Stiffness
Base design Proposal-1 Proposal-2

HASETRI 15 of 16
 Content

• Background and Motivation

• Introduction
• Problem Description
• Simulation Methodology
• Result & Discussion
• Conclusion & Outlook

HASETRI
 Conclusion & Outlook

• Proposed approach can be effectively used for optimal rolling resistance design

• Change in other performance parameters in acceptable range (<5%)

• Major improvement scope is available in cross-ply tyre using proposed approach

• Proposed approach can be used for cost effectiveness and material reduction

• Lower temperature of tyre is expected with design using proposed approach

• Sooner the advancement in manufacturing technology, sooner this will become a

reality.

HASETRI 16 of 16
 References

• [1] Futamura S., Goldstein Arthur A., “Prediction and simulation of tire
performance characteristics based on deformation index,” Rubber Chemistry and
Technology (2016) Vol. 89, 66-71.
• [2] Futamura S., "Deformation Index – Concept for hysteresis energy loss
process," Rubber Chemistry and Technology (1991) Vol. 64, 57-64.
• [3] Mars W. V., "Analysis of stiffness variation in context of strain, stress and
energy controlled process," Rubber Chemistry and Technology (2011) Vol. 84,
178-186.
• [4] Narasimha Rao, K. V., “Design of Pneumaic Tyres with Finite Element
Analysis,” Phd Thesis submitted to IIT Madras (2005).
• [5] Narasimha Rao, K. V. et al., “A sensitivity analysis of design attributes and
operating conditions on tyre operating temperatures and rolling resistance using
finite element analysis,” IMechE, Vol. 220 Part D: J. Automobile Engineering
(2006).

HASETRI
 References

• [6] Narasimha Rao, K. V. et al., “Transient Finite Element Analysis of Tire

Dynamic Behavior,” Tire Science and Technology (2006), TSTCA, Vol. 34, 195-
214.
• [7] Oh, B. S., Kim, N. J., Moon, H. Y., and Park, H. Y., “Internal Temperature
Distribution in a Rolling Tire,” Tire Science and Technology (1995),TSTCA Vol.
23, 11-25.
• [8] Park, H. C., Youn, S. –K., Song, T. S., and Kim, N. -J., “Analysis of
Temperature Distribution in a Rolling Tire Due to Strain Energy Dissipation,”
Tire Science and Technology (1997), TSTCA, Vol. 25, 214-228.
• [9] Pillai, P. S., "Total Tire energy Loss Comparison by the Whole Tire
Hysteresis and the Rolling resistance Methods," Tire Science and Technology
(1995), TSTCA, Vol. 23, 256-265.
• [10] Ebbot, T. G., Hohman, R. L., Jeusette, J-P., and Kerchman, V., “Tire
Temperature and Rolling Resistance Prediction with Finite Element Analysis,”
Tire Science and Technology (1999), TSTCA, Vol. 27, 2-21.

HASETRI
 References

• [11] Futamura, S., Goldstein, A., “A Simple Method of Handling

Thermomechanical Coupling for Temperature Computation in a Rolling Tire,”
Tire Science and Technology (2004), TSTCA, Vol. 32, 56-68.
• [12] Gibert, J. M., Ananthasayanam, B., Jopesh, P. F., Rhyne, T. B., and Cron, S.
M., "Deformation Index Based Modelling of Transient, Thermo-mechanical
Rolling Resistance for a Nonpneumatic Tire," Tire Science and Technology
(2013), TSTCA, Vol. 41, 82-108.
• [13] Smith, M 2009, “ABAQUS/Standard User's Manual,” Version 6.9. Simulia,
Providence, RI.
• [14] van Rossum, Guido, et al, “The Python Language Reference”, Python
Software Foundation; http://docs.python.org/py3k/reference/index.html

HASETRI
HASETRI