Tire Structural Parameter Analysis for Road Noise Using an Accurate FEM Model

Along with recent developments of road noise simulation techniques for vehicle body and suspension, there has been a need to develop an accurate tire model capable of analyzing various vibration phenomena up to the road noise frequency range. While some FEM tire models have been proposed, they have been limited to the lower frequency range and do not always take into consideration the effect of the tire patch. Consequently, they do not provide the accuracy needed for road noise simulation. This paper describes a new FEM model that takes into account the tire pressure, patch deformation and tire rotation and provides an accurate prediction of tire vibration characteristics from low frequencies up to 250 Hz in the road noise frequency range. This tire model is incorporated into a vehicle model to investigate the effects of tire structural parameters on the passenger compartment noise level.