T.R.I.C.K.‐Tire/Road Interaction Characterization & Knowledge - A tool for the evaluation of tire and vehicle performances in outdoor test sessions

• Published in: Mechanical systems and signal processing 2016-05, Vol.72-73, p.808-831
• Main Author: Farroni, Flavio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automobiles; Automotive components; Automotive engineering; Computer simulation; Exchange; Mathematical models; Performance evaluation; Roads; Tire road interaction; Tires; Track experimental session; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle modeling
• ISSN: 0888-3270; 1096-1216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2015.11.019

The most powerful engine, the most sophisticated aerodynamic devices or the most complex control systems will not improve vehicle performances if the forces exchanged with the road are not optimized by proper employment and knowledge of tires. The vehicle interface with the ground is constituted by the sum of small surfaces, wide about as one of our palms, in which tire/road interaction forces are exchanged. From this it is clear to see how the optimization of tire behavior represents a key-factor in the definition of the best setup of the whole vehicle. Nowadays, people and companies playing a role in automotive sector are looking for the optimal solution to model and understand tire׳s behavior both in experimental and simulation environments. The studies carried out and the tool developed herein demonstrate a new approach in tire characterization and in vehicle simulation procedures. This enables the reproduction of the dynamic response of a tire through the use of specific track sessions, carried out with the aim to employ the vehicle as a moving lab. The final product, named TRICK tool (Tire/Road Interaction Characterization and Knowledge), comprises of a vehicle model which processes experimental signals acquired from vehicle CAN bus and from sideslip angle estimation additional instrumentation. The output of the tool is several extra "virtual telemetry" channels, based on the time history of the acquired signals and containing force and slip estimations, useful to provide tire interaction characteristics. TRICK results can be integrated with the physical models developed by the Vehicle Dynamics UniNa research group, providing a multitude of working solutions and constituting an ideal instrument for the prediction and the simulation of the real tire dynamics. •TRICK tool represents a new approach in tire and vehicle characterization procedures.•TRICK enables the reproduction tire response employing the vehicle as a moving lab.•TRICK comprises of a vehicle model which processes track experimental signals.•The validation of the procedure has been performed using dynamometric wheels.•The obtained tire interaction curves account for friction and thermal phenomena.