Finite element analysis of the thermal characteristics and parametric study of steady rolling tires

This article presents a numerical thermomechanical analysis and parametric study of steady rolling tires that are treated as axisymmetric structures for simplification. Under periodic stress-strain cycles, during tire rolling, internal heat will be generated because of energy loss from the tire material. A general-purpose, finite element program is used to model this two-dimensional heat conduction with distributed, internal heat sources, whereas an inhouse code for tire simulation performs the underlying three-dimensional structure and heatgeneration rate analysis. The tire belts and carcasses are modeled using layer solid elements with transverse, isotropic, thermomechanical properties, whereas the rubber components are made of isotropic materials. The goal of this article is to develop a simple and easy methodology for simulating tire thermomechanical behavior. Furthermore, the parametric study for the highest shoulder temperature (HST), which is widely accepted as one of the triggers of tire failure, has been performed. The HST sensitivities to the selected parameters have been computed from the simulated temperature fields under different conditions, which provide a guidance to improve the tire structural, material, and pattern designs.