Stress analysis of a multi-laminated tractor tyre using non-linear 3D finite element analysis

To analyse the off-road tyre–road contact pressure distribution as a function of inflation pressure and normal load, a non-linear multi-laminated model of a tractor tyre was developed. The modelling process is based on the 3D pressure fields obtained through the non-linear static stress analysis of a finite element (FE) tyre model, which considers the structural geometry, the anisotropic material properties of the multiple layers and the nearly incompressible property of the tread rubber block. Increased levels of tyre–road interface stress were found near the centre of the tyre–road model when inflation pressure was increased and near the edge when load was increased. The peak interface pressure results showed that the greatest ratio of peak interface pressure to inflation pressure was 2.5 and the lowest ratio was 0.21. The computed tyre–road contact lengths are qualitatively compared with the measured data to examine the validity of the model. It is concluded that the proposed model can provide reliable predictions for the three-dimensional stress field in the multi-laminated system and the contact pressure distribution throughout the tractor tyre–road interface.