[Paper Review] Effect of spoke design and material nonlinearity on non-pneumatic tire stiffness and durability performance

Priyankkumar Dhrangdhariya, Soumyadipta Maiti+1 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Mar 5, 2021

Mechanical Engineering and Vibrations Research4 citations

TL;DR

This study investigates the influence of spoke geometry and polyurethane (PU) material nonlinearity on non-pneumatic tire performance using 3D finite element modeling in ANSYS 16.0. Results show the Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model best captures PU nonlinearity, and the optimal combination of UPTIS spoke design with nonlinear material yields superior stiffness, durability, and ride comfort.

ABSTRACT

Non-pneumatic tire has been widely used due to their advantages of no run-flat, no need of air maintenance, low rolling resistance, and improvement of passengers comfort due to its better shock absorption. It has variety of application in the military vehicle, earthmovers, lunar rover, stair climbing vehicles etc. Recently UPTIS (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) non pneumatic tire has been introduced for passenger vehicles. In this study three different design configuration Tweel, Honeycomb and newly developed UPTIS have been compared. Effect of Polyurethane (PU) material nonlinearity have also been introduced by applying 5 different nonlinear PU material property in the spokes. The combined analysis of the PU material nonlinearity and spoke design configuration on the overall tire stiffness and spoke damage prediction is analysed using 3-Dimensional FEM simulations performed in ANSYS 16.0. It has been observed that Mooney Rivlin 5-parameter model is best to capture all 5 studied PU materials the nonlinearity. Effect of material nonlinearity on various spoke designs have been studied. The best combination of spoke design and the use of nonlinear material have been suggested in terms of riding comfort, tire stiffness and durability performance.

Motivation & Objective

• To evaluate the impact of different spoke designs—Tweel, Honeycomb, and UPTIS—on non-pneumatic tire mechanical performance.
• To assess the role of polyurethane (PU) material nonlinearity in influencing tire stiffness and durability.
• To identify the optimal combination of spoke geometry and nonlinear material properties for improved riding comfort and structural performance.
• To validate the accuracy of the Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model in representing diverse PU material behaviors.
• To provide design guidelines for non-pneumatic tires with enhanced durability and reduced dynamic loading effects.

Proposed method

• Conducted 3D finite element method (FEM) simulations using ANSYS 16.0 to model non-pneumatic tire structures.
• Evaluated three spoke configurations: Tweel, Honeycomb, and UPTIS, under identical loading conditions.
• Applied five different nonlinear material models for polyurethane (PU), including the Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model.
• Performed static and durability simulations to assess stress distribution, deformation, and damage initiation in spokes.
• Used the Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model to fit and represent the nonlinear stress-strain behavior of five distinct PU materials.
• Correlated simulation results with tire stiffness, energy dissipation, and predicted spoke failure modes.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How do different spoke designs (Tweel, Honeycomb, UPTIS) affect the stiffness and durability of non-pneumatic tires?
• RQ2 To what extent does polyurethane material nonlinearity influence tire performance under static and cyclic loading?
• RQ3 Which combination of spoke geometry and PU material model yields the best balance of stiffness, durability, and ride comfort?
• RQ4 Can the Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model accurately represent the nonlinear behavior of multiple PU materials used in tire spokes?
• RQ5 What are the dominant failure modes in spoke components under realistic loading conditions, and how do they vary with design and material?

Key findings

• The Mooney-Rivlin 5-parameter model provided the most accurate representation of the nonlinear stress-strain behavior across all five tested polyurethane materials.
• The UPTIS spoke design exhibited superior stiffness and lower stress concentration compared to Tweel and Honeycomb configurations.
• Nonlinear material behavior significantly influenced energy absorption and stress distribution, reducing peak stresses in spokes.
• The combination of UPTIS spoke geometry with nonlinear PU material resulted in the lowest predicted damage index, indicating enhanced durability.
• Stress concentrations were most pronounced in the Tweel design, particularly at spoke-root junctions, suggesting higher failure risk.
• The simulation results demonstrated that material nonlinearity must be accurately captured to predict realistic tire performance and durability.