Research on High-Speed Tire Blowout Stability Control Based on MPC

Tire blowouts pose a significant threat to the safety of high-speed vehicles, especially under extreme road and operational conditions. These events not only compromise the stability of vehicles but also significantly increase the risk of accidents, especially when the vehicle is operating at highway speeds. To address these challenges, this paper presents a comprehensive study on the dynamic behavior and lateral stability control of four-wheel independent drive electric vehicles following a tire blowout. A flat-tire model is developed based on the UniTire framework, incorporating critical changes in mechanical properties such as rolling resistance, cornering stiffness, and radial stiffness derived from bench test data. A vertical load transfer model is also introduced to account for the redistribution of loads after a blowout. To mitigate instability, a model predictive control (MPC) approach is designed, enabling real-time computation of corrective yaw moments and steering angles. The control strategy considers both vehicle dynamics and actuation constraints. Simulation scenarios for different blowout locations and driving speeds confirm the controller's effectiveness in enhancing post-blowout stability. Furthermore, a real-world vehicle test with an induced front tire puncture demonstrates that the proposed control algorithm significantly reduces lateral deviation and heading error without driver intervention. This study not only contributes a refined tire blowout model but also offers a practical control solution to ensure safety and stability of autonomous or human-driven vehicles under adverse tire failure scenarios.