Material Characterization and Numerical Techniques for Accurate Prediction of Snow-Tire Interactions

Abstract

Snow traction is a critical performance parameter for tire manufacturers, typically evaluated using standardized methods such as ASTM F1805-20. However, physical testing presents substantial limitations, including limited access to winter proving grounds, difficulties in maintaining consistent test conditions and high prototyping costs. This dissertation addresses these challenges by developing advanced numerical simulations for snow-tire interactions. In this study, a systematic approach was established to characterize compacted snow with a density of 500 kg/m³. Material parameters for the Drucker-Prager Cap (DPC) plasticity model were derived from Direct Shear Tests (DST) and Confined Compression Tests (CCT). These parameters were validated through numerical simulations, which closely matched experimental results. The effectiveness of different numerical methods including Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), and a hybrid SPH-FEM was evaluated. Simulations of in-situ devices such as the CTI penetrometer, Clegg hammer, and vane-cone device compared method performance in terms of accuracy, stability, and computational efficiency. The hybrid SPH-FEM method demonstrated the best performance. Additionally, a finite element analysis (FEA) model of the Standard Reference Test Tire (SRTT) 225/60R16 was developed and validated against experimental data with different inflation pressure. Using validated tire and snow models, traction simulations were conducted at various slip ratios and validated against in-situ test data. Additionally, the impact of tire tread design and sipes on traction was investigated by comparing a SRTT tire model to a blank-rib tire model under identical slip conditions. This research provides tire manufacturers with a reliable virtual validation method, significantly reducing the development time and prototype testing costs while improving traction performance of winter tires.