On the Combined Effects of Tread Element Flexibility and Pavement Microtexture on Thin Film Wet Traction

Classical models of the thin film wet traction problem have considered the tire tread element to be rigid and the pavement to be smooth. Recently an analysis was developed which relaxed the rigid plate assumption and was applied to the thin film wet traction problem. It was shown there that the rigid plate model was inadequate. The effect of microtexture on thin film wet traction was also studied assuming a rigid tread element. The effect of microtexture was shown to be significant.

In the present study both the effect of a deformable tread element and that of pavement microtexture are included. The relative importance of these effects is discussed.