Aquaplaning phenomenon characterisation of a rotating tire over water puddles

Vehicle tire aquaplaning is a dangerous phenomenon, characterized in its hydrodynamic form by the tire to ground separation and the cancellation of steering or braking control possibilities. Its occurence is generally suspected only for high speeds in presence of water but the phenomenon can appear for rather low speeds. This work aim is to characterize aquaplaning occurence. Tests was carried out on a LCPC track comprising a water retention zone. An instrumented vehicle equipped with worn tires rolled through this zone for different stabilized speeds. As relevant indicators of the aquaplaning occurence we retained the rotation rates and forces of the traction wheels. At low speed, the wheel transmission moments increase while through the puddles because of the water hydrodynamic reaction. Conversely, starting from the realization of the process of aquaplaning these moments decrease whereas the rotation rates of the driving wheels increase simultaneously. With under-inflated tires the critical speed of aquaplaning was lowered to approximately 19 m/s while it is increased to more than 30 m/s in the event of over-inflation. Finally, phenomenon parameter have been verified by developing a visco-hydrodynamic model. The overall study confirms the risk of aquaplaning at low speed