Tire Mechanics Short Course

The basic and practical aspects of the mechanics of pneumatic tires will be introduced by internationally renowned experts in tire mechanics. Extensive and detailed course notes prepared by each instructor will be provided for all participants along with a 700-page e-book The Pneumatic Tire edited by Dr. Allen Neville Gent and Dr. Joseph Walter.

Those who complete this course will receive a certificate from The University of Akron. Review the program, which also includes speaker bios.

The 51st Tire Mechanics Course was held Monday, September 12 through Friday, September 16, at the John S. Knight Center, Akron, Ohio concurrently with ITEC 2022 Tire Manufacturing Exhibition and Conference.

course program

Monday, September 12, 2022

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Dr. Benjamin T.F. Chung, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, USA

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Complimentary Lunch, 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.)
THE TIRE AS A VEHICLE COMPONENT
Dr. Gerald Potts, GRP Consulting, Akron, OH, USA

Today’s pneumatic tire must serve four functions: (1) support a moving load; (2) generate steering forces; (3) generate driving and braking forces; and (4) provide isolation from road irregularities. In examining the complex mechanism involved in satisfying the four requirements, participants will study the tire’s importance in determining overall vehicle performance; for no matter what level of complexity is designed into a vehicle, its only communication with the road is through tires, which must be tough and strong, yet flexible.

1. Basic Functions
2. Lateral Force Tire Models
3. Cornering Transients
4. Vehicle Ride Characteristics

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Complimentary Lunch, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.)
TIRE COMPONENTS, TIRE COMPOUNDS AND TIRE MATERIALS
Dr. Annette Lechtenböhmer, Goodyear Innovation Center, Luxembourg; (retired)
Associate Editor of Tire Science and Technology Journal

The lecture gives an overview on the tire components, the demands to their compounds and the use of materials in these compounds. It attempts to make the connection between the role of components in a tire, the compound requirements to these components and the raw materials and cure which results in the desired compound properties. The lecture wants to close the loop between the raw materials and reinforcements used, the compound properties, tire preparation and cure and final tire properties.

The lecture will cover:
1. Components of a tire and demands
2. Tire compounds and their materials, including polymers, fillers, additives, sulfur and curatives
3. Tire structure and composites, textile cords, wire, carcasses, beads and belts
4. Processing, including mixing, calendaring, extrusion
5. Tire building
6. Tire curing

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Visit to the ITEC Exhibition

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Complimentary Networking Reception with ITEC Attendees

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Complimentary Lunch, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.)
TIRE STRESS AND DEFORMATION ANALYSIS
Dr. Michael Trinko, Technical Center, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, OH USA (retired)

Several topics related to understanding tire behavior are covered which give a basic understanding of tire mechanics. The properties of the anisotropic cord rubber composite have primary control of the overall performance characteristics of pneumatic tires. To optimize a given tire performance, knowledge of the combined cord rubber composite material properties is necessary and will be covered in this part of the course. Finally, we will examine results of rolling tire analyses and how these were obtained.

1. Analytical Techniques (Classical Methods)
    A. Equilibrium tire design
    B. Cord loads, belt loads, sidewall loads
    C. Air diffusion calculation
    D. Beads load, bead contact forces
    E. Experimental Techniques
2. Composite Material Properties Calculation
3. Footprint Contact Behavior
4. Cord Loads for Traction, Cornering
5. Rolling Tire Modeling Approaches

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Complimentary ITEC Brews & Bites

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Time to visit the ITEC Exhibition

Thursday, September 15, 2022

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Complimentary Lunch, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.)
IMPACT OF RUBBER AND REINFORCEMENT PROPERTIES ON TIRE FOOTPRINT MECHANICS
Dr. Mahmoud Assaad, Computational Mechanics, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, OH. USA

The viscoelastic behavior of the rubber compounds and the reinforcing cords influences the stability of the tire footprint shape. Additional physical properties such as the strain dependency of both constituents and their thermal stability contribute to the contact pressure distribution. The resultant tire forces and moments transmitted to the vehicle are measured using tri-axial force pin transducers or pressure sensitive mats. The interaction between the materials behavior and the tire global response controls the mechanics of tire abradibility and wear characteristics.

The following topics will be discussed:
1. Rubber viscoelasticity, Static, Dynamic, and Fracture Properties
2. Fibers and Cords: load-displacement, creep, stress relaxation, and shrinkage
3. Footprint Mechanics and Tire Forces and Moments

Friday, September 16, 2022

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Complimentary Lunch, 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.)
VIRTUAL TIRE MODELING for IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Dr. Ronald Kennedy, Center for Tire Research (CenTire) (retired), The University of Akron and Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, Va. USA
Associate Editor of Tire Science and Technology Journal

Simulations are increasingly being used in companies’ virtual design processes to develop a tire more effectively and efficiently with desired performance attributes. These simulation methods run the gamut from simple empirical or analytical models to highly detailed finite element models. These increasing levels of modeling will be described along with examples, with extended focus on the finite element modeling method. Various finite element modeling techniques will be shown as part of the tire performance simulation examples.

1. Review of tire modeling methods, with examples
2. Introduction to tire finite element analysis (FEA)
3. Application of FEA to tire performance prediction
    a. Tire/road contact
    b. Rolling resistance
    c. Tread wear
    d. Durability
    e. Hydroplaning

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
COURSE EVALUATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF COURSE CERTIFICATES
Dr. Benjamin T.F. Chung, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH USA

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