Modeling free-flow speed according to different water depths—From the viewpoint of dynamic hydraulic pressure

• Published in: Transportation research. Part D, Transport and environment Transport and environment, 2016-08, Vol.47, p.13-21
• Main Authors: Liu, M.-W., Oeda, Yoshinao, Sumi, Tomonori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automotive components; Dynamics method; Free flow speed; Hydrodynamic pressure coefficient; Hydroplaning; Hydroplaning speed; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Modelling; Tires; Traction force; Water depth
• ISSN: 1361-9209; 1879-2340
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2016.04.009

•A method of modeling free speed from the viewpoint of hydroplaning is proposed.•The hydrodynamic pressure coefficient was determined to be 0.03tfs2/m4.•The lift forces produced by dynamic hydraulic pressure were estimated.•A physical estimation the ground hydroplaning speed is given.•The traction force at the measured speed is 23.4% of which at hydroplaning speed. In this paper, we propose a method of modeling free flow speed from the viewpoint of hydroplaning. First, the lift forces for different water depths were estimated using Bernoulli’s equation. Compared with the result of the experimental test performed by the Japan Automobile Research Institute, the hydrodynamic pressure coefficient was determined to be 0.03(tfs2/m4). The validation of the predicted lift force is found in another published paper. A very good match is found between the computed values by the proposed numerical model and the data in other published papers. Then, the loss of contact force is considered to evaluate the hydroplaning performance of a tire. To simulate the hydroplaning speed, a tire-sliding model was utilized to obtain the traction and friction forces between the road surface and the tire. The observation data obtained in Japan in 2009 is compared with the physically computed hydroplaning speed, yielding the conclusion that the traction force at the measured desired speed is, on average, 23.4% of the traction force at hydroplaning speed. The analytical model offers a useful tool to quantitatively show that the free flow speed changes as the water depth increase.