Simulation environment for sensor-enhanced tires - SENSE

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Kaliske
• Subject Area: Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 392015269

Autonomous cars and smart vehicles gain increasing attention across both Germany and China and form a new mobility technology, which will change the industry ecosystem and the way of transport in human life. Tires are a key part of cars and vehicles by establishing the link between car and road (vehicle-tire-road system). Furthermore, smart tires play a key role in the modern smart transportation system in which the vehicle-tire-road system will be monitored and actively actuated. From the application of smart tires, benefits are expected due to real time monitoring by sensor-equipped tires (tire dynamics), but also from the potential to enhance the performance of the vehicle chassis control. However, the manufacturing process of smart tires is not trivial and, in consequence, requires a profound study of potential sensor positions and manufacturing processes taking place.China is a growing market for tire manufacturing. Germany traditionally hosts expert knowledge in combination with enhancing quality and environmental sustainability. Therefore, a joint research approach between the Department of Automotive Engineering at the Tsinghua University in China and the Institute for Structural Analysis at the Technische Universität Dresden in Germany seems promising and combines pronounced expert knowledge from both sides.Within the joint project, the smart tire-sensor system is addressed. The object of investigation is the design and simulation of a smart tire by combining existing functional elements (tire: load transmission, mechanical part; sensor: monitoring equipment). It is intended to provide a mathematical relationship between the quantities obtained by the sensors and the quantities to be monitored (forces, moments, tire velocities). To identify potential sensor locations in the tire design, the manufacturing of tires with or without sensors is addressed as well. A thermo-mechanical tire moulding simulation by the finite element method from the uncured to the final cured tire is planned to reveal the initial state of the manufactured tire (e.g. pre-stress in cords due to geometry changes and action of heat during manufacturing process) and to evaluate the final location of sensor devices placed within the tire during manufacturing. Further research topics will cover the design and simulation of the smart tire performance, the sensor design and selection, the system integration, the power supply for the sensor and its communication with control units. Here the question is about the potential location of integrated sensors and resulting durability issues. The main objective is to provide a simulation environment for sensor-enhanced tires.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Yintao Wei