Tire/Road Stick-Slip Interactions: Analysis and Experiments

Tire/road interactions are critical for vehicles’ safe operation and efficient mobility design. In this paper, we report the analytical and experimental development for understanding stick-slip interactions between a stationary tire and the ground. We first propose a semi-analytical model to predict normal force distribution on the tire contact patch. A hybrid beam-spring modeling approach is then used to model and compute the stress and deformation evolutions during stick-slip transition. A new pressure-sensitive, electric conductive rubber sensor is embedded in the tire rubber to measure the three-dimensional force distributions. The embedded sensor measurements also validate the beam-spring-based tire contact models. The understanding and modeling development of the stick-slip interactions for stationary tires will provide a knowledge foundation for studying dynamic tire/road interactions.