Modeling and analysis of bias-ply motorcycle tires

Physical properties of motorcycle tire structure are considered to help select a good and true-to-life mechanistic model suitable for finite element analysis of tires. Rubber and bias-ply layered-cord together make the inflated unhomogeneous tire structure anisotropic and geometrically highly nonlinear.A mathematical model made of 3-D solid and truss elements is discussed, and presented as realistic and adequate to accommodate the anisotropy and nonlinearity inherent in the tire problem.Various loading cases, including a cambered tire with inflation pressure and vertical load on contact patch, are studied and evaluated for force and moment acting on the tire. The results are very encouraging and satisfactory.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25830/1/0000393.pd