Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Computerized modeling has significantly changed both the design process and the way in which experimental information is gathered. Before extensive computer usage, many physical models needed to be created and, in some cases, destroyed for prototyping and experimental purposes. In recent years, the advancement of computerized modeling has allowed for the creation of extensive pneumatic tire models. These models have been used to determine many tire properties and tire-road interaction parameters. More recently, computerized modeling has been used to explore tire-soil interactions. The new parameters created by these interactions were defined for these models, but accurate soil constitutive equations were lacking. With the previous models, the soil was simulated using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with soil material models requiring calibration and validation. Furthermore, using our experience the advanced meshless modeling method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) will be applied for more accurate simulation of the large soil deformations and complex tire-soil interactions. *This research program is combining the current research projects funded by industry to model several FEA road and off-road tires which were validated in a virtual environment comparing simulation results to test data provided by industrial partners. The research features the use of a newer technique that considers the deformation of materials to model soft soils. The soils to be modeled are calibrated using different simulations to compare to published experimental data derived from standard tests. Applying the calibrated soils as a surface for the validated tires allows the tire-terrain interaction characteristics, such as rolling resistance and cornering performance parameters, to be investigated. Included in the objectives is expanding the library of soil models by modeling soil mixtures, such as water-sand and water-clayey, to allow for more realistic soil type investigation as well as hydroplaning investigations over different concentrations of water-soil mixtures. The results will be implemented into full vehicle models to evaluate their performance over different terrain.*This research program will be beneficial for the Canadian automotive industry, such as General Motors-Canada and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, by reducing the time and monetary expenses involved in physically testing vehicles over different terrains. The industry will also be able to simulate a vehicle's performance over water, snow, and soils. Simulations allow physical tests to be minimized to reduce the costs involved in providing equipment and environment. Safety can also be increased by avoiding dangerous tests such as hydroplaning which is performed at speeds above 100 km/h. Advanced tire-terrain interaction simulations will enhance the safety of testing for members of the automotive industry. *