Development of solid tire model for finite element analysis of compressive loading

Abstract

A solid tire model for forklift trucks has been developed in order to investigate tire performance while supporting a compressive load. The rubber compounds used for solid tire layers were tested to obtain their stress-strain characteristics and to assess applicability of a constitutive model. The Ogden model was suitable for representing the stress-strain characteristics in all layers of a solid tire. The three-dimensional finite element model of a solid tire was developed by assembling the internal, middle, and tread layers. In order to validate this solid tire model, compression load tests were performed on simulated solid tires. The deflection and footprint results of the simulations were found to agree well with experimental data, with an average error less than 10.31%.