Accurate and efficient tire models for deformable terrain operations are essential for performing vehicle simulations. Assessment of the forces and moments that occur at the tire-terrain interface, and the effect of the tire motion on properties of the terrain are crucial in understanding the performance of a vehicle. In order to model the dynamic behavior of the tire on different terrains, a lumped mass discretized tire model using Kelvin-Voigt elements is developed. To optimize the computational time of the code, different techniques were used in memory allocation, parameter initialization, code sequence, and multi-processing. This has resulted in significant improvements in efficiency of the code that can now run close to real time and therefore it is suitable for use by commercially available vehicle simulation packages. Model parameters are obtained using a validated finite element tire model, modal analysis, and other experimental test procedures. Experimental tests were performed on the Terramechanics rig at Virginia Tech. The tests were performed on different terrains; tire forces and moments, soil sinkage, and tire deformation data were collected for various case studies based on a design of experiment matrix. This data, in addition to modal analysis data were used to validate the tire model. Furthermore, to study the validity of the tire model, simulations at conditions similar to the test conditions were performed on a quarter car model. The results have indicated the superiority of this model as compared to other lumped parameter models currently available. / Ph. D.

Studying the kinetic and kinematics of the rim-tire combination is very important in full vehicle simulations, as well as for the tire design process. Tire maneuvers are either quasi-static, such as steady-state rolling, or dynamic, such as traction and braking. The rolling of the tire over obstacles and potholes and, more generally, over uneven roads are other examples of dynamic events which are of importance. In the latter case, tire dynamic models are used for durability assessment of the vehicle chassis, and should be studied using high fidelity simulation models. In this study, a threedimensional finite element model (FEM) of the 16 inch TMPT Tire has been developed using the commercial software package ABAQUS. The purpose of this study is to investigate tire transient dynamic behavior for various inputs. The process of running dynamic FE tire simulations starts by statically inflating and loading the tire using an implicit method with refined mesh in the contact patch. Then, by using the "result transfer" option in ABAQUS, final state vectors are used as initial conditions for subsequent simulations. Using this sequence of loading steps helps increase the efficiency of the code. The validation of the model is performed in two stages. First, tire mode shapes and associated natural frequencies and damping values are compared with the experimental data. Second, a series of transient dynamic simulations are performed using an explicit method with a fine mesh around the circumference of the tire. Finally, the FEM model results are filtered to eliminate the numerical noise, and their correlation with the test data is investigated. Moreover, the peak values and time shifts associated with spindle forces as a function of normal load are studied. The results show that the tire dynamic response is autonomous. / Master of Science