1Mechanics of Pneumatic Tires
Aside from aerodynamic and gravitational forces, all other major forces and moments affecting the motion of a ground vehicle are applied through the running gear–ground contact. An understanding of the basic characteristics of the interaction between the running gear and the ground is, therefore, essential to the study of performance characteristics, handling behavior, and ride quality of ground vehicles. The running gear of a ground vehicle is generally required to fulfill the following functions:
- To support the weight of the vehicle
- To cushion the vehicle over surface irregularities
- To provide sufficient traction for driving and braking
- To provide adequate steering control and direction stability
Pneumatic tires can perform these functions effectively and efficiently; thus, they are universally used in road vehicles, and are also widely used in off‐road vehicles. The study of the mechanics of pneumatic tires is of fundamental importance to the understanding of the performance and behavior of ground vehicles. Two basic types of problem in the mechanics of tires are of special interest to vehicle engineers. One is the mechanics of tires on paved roads, which is essential to the study of the characteristics of road vehicles. The other is the mechanics of tires on deformable surfaces (unprepared terrain), which is of prime importance to the study of off‐road wheeled vehicle behavior.
The mechanics of tires on paved roads is discussed in this chapter, ...
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