Development of a flexible belt on an elastic multi-stiffness foundation tire model for a heavy load radial tire with a large section ratio

The study investigates the planar vibration characteristics of a radial tire with a large section ratio for a heavy load vehicle. A proposed tire model with a flexible belt on an elastic multi-stiffness foundation is investigated via theoretical modeling and an experimental modal analysis. Additionally, the parametric identification of the proposed tire model is discussed. When compared with the conventional sidewall stiffness model for general car tires, the analytical multi-stiffness function of a large section ratio sidewall is derived by combining the membrane feature caused by inflation pressure and the structural deformation caused by sidewall curvature. The Euler beam model specifically assesses the circumferential vibration of the flexible belt. Additionally, we combine the sidewall multi-stiffness function of the membrane pre-tension stiffness, and the structural deformation stiffness is integrated into the flexible belt model. The effect of inflation pressure on the circumferential vibration of the flexible belt is investigated via the experimental modal method and theoretical Euler beam model. The stretching, bending, shearing deformations, and stiffness characteristics of the curved sidewall arc are derived via the virtual work principle. The nonlinear stiffness characteristic of the tire sidewall is calculated relative to the radial deformation of the sidewall segment. The effect of the inhomogeneous section area on the multi-stiffness function is discussed. The experimental and theoretical results indicate the following: (1) The multi-stiffness function of the curved sidewall assesses the pre-tension membrane feature and structural deformation, which is related to the inflation pressure, structural curvature, and material properties; (2) the multi-stiffness function of the curved sidewall is nonlinear relative to the radial deformation of the sidewall arc, and the nonlinear characteristic is highlighted with high inflation pressure; (3) the inhomogeneous feature of the section area affects the multi-stiffness of the curved sidewall. Given the combined sidewall multi-stiffness function of the membrane feature and structural deformation, the elastic foundation model acts as an independent module to enrich the flexible belt beam model. Additionally, a flexible belt on an elastic multi-stiffness foundation tire model is suitable for a radial tire with a large section ratio of a heavy load vehicle or tires under impulsive loads and large deformations.