Modeling the dynamic frictional contact of tires using an explicit finite element code

A time-accurate explicit time-integration finite element code is used to simulate the dynamic response of tires including tire/pavement and tire/rim frictional contact. Eight-node brick elements, which do not exhibit locking or spurious modes, are used to model the tire's rubber. Those elements enable use of one element through the thickness for modeling the tire. The bead, tread and ply are modeled using truss or beam elements along the tire circumference and meridian directions with appropriate stiffness and damping properties. The tire wheel is modeled as a rigid cylinder. Normal contact between the tire and the wheel and between the tire and the pavement is modeled using the penalty technique. Friction is modeled using an asperity-based approximate Coulomb friction model.