Tire Engineering: Conducting Noise Analysis with Advanced Simulation

Tires play a critical role in ensuring the safety and performance of vehicles. As the sole point of contact between the vehicle and the road, they must be designed to provide excellent grip, stability, and handling in a wide range of driving conditions. One critical factor when it comes to driver and passenger experience is noise, in this article we will explore how advanced simulation techniques, such as those offered by SIMULIA, are used to conduct tire noise analysis.  

Understanding Tire Noise: Causes and Analysis Techniques 

Tire noise is a significant problem that affects both drivers and passengers. Various factors, including tread pattern, road surface, and tire construction, can cause it. The most common types of tire noise are rolling noise, caused by the interaction between the tire and the road surface, airborne nose, caused by the vibration of the tire itself; and pass-by noise, external noise emitted by vehicles as they pass by. 

Engineers use various techniques to analyze tire noise, including physical testing and computer simulations. Physical testing involves placing a tire on a specially designed machine and measuring its nose output under controlled conditions. However, physical testing can be time-consuming and expensive, and testing every possible combination of tire parameters may be challenging. 

Tire Noise Analysis with Advanced Simulation 

Analyzing Rolling Noise 

One of the most important aspects of tire noise analysis is understanding the causes of rolling noise. This is the noise generated when a tire rolls over a road surface. Rolling noise is caused by a complex interaction between the tire and the road, and it can be influenced by a range of factors, including the tread pattern, the tire’s construction, and the properties of the road surface. 

Using SIMULIA, engineers can simulate the rolling noise of tires under various conditions. They can explore how different factors affect rolling noise by varying the tire and road surface properties. This allows them to identify the most significant contributions to rolling noise and develop new tire designs that minimize it. 

Exploring Airborne Noise 

Another important aspect of tire noise analysis is understanding the cause of airborne noise. This is the noise generated by the vibration of the tire itself rather than by its interaction with the road surface. Airborne noise is typically caused by the resonance of the tire’s structure, and it can be influenced by a range of factors, including the tire’s construction and the speed at which it travels. 

Using SIMULIA, engineers can simulate the vibration of tires under a range of conditions. By verifying the properties of the tire, such as its stiffness and damping, they can explore how different factors affect airborne noise. This allows them to identify the most significant contributors to airborne noise and develop new tire designs that minimize it. 

Minimizing Pass-by Tire Noise 

Simulation techniques can play a significant role in minimizing pass-by tire noises in vehicles. Using advanced simulation software like SIMULIA, engineers can create virtual models of tires and simulate their behavior under different conditions. They can explore how different pass-by noise affects by varying the tire and road surface properties. This allows them to identify the most significant contributors to pass-by noise and develop new tire designs to minimize it. 

For example, engineers can use simulation to analyze the effects of tread patterns, tire stiffness, and damping on pass-by noise. This helps optimize the tire design to balance better noise reduction and other critical performance factors like grip and handling. In this way, simulation techniques like those offered by SIMULIA are invaluable tools in designing quieter and more comfortable vehicles that minimize their impact on the environment and the surrounding community. 

Conduct Efficient Tire Noise Analysis with SIMULIA 

Computer simulations offer a more efficient and cost-effective way to analyze tire noise. Using advanced software such as SIMULIA, engineers can create detailed virtual models of tires and simulate their behavior under various conditions. This allows them to explore different tire designs and configurations quickly and efficiently without expensive physical testing. Specific solutions are listed below: 

• SIMULIA Abaqus: Abaqus is a finite element analysis (FEA) software that can be used to model and analyze the structural behavior of a vehicle. This includes the ability to model the entire car, its components, and their interactions. This can predict how the vehicle will respond to different loading and operating conditions and identify areas where noise and vibration may be an issue. 
• SIMULIA Isight: Another tool SIMULIA offers is Isight, a process automation software that can optimize a vehicle’s design. Isight can help optimize the suspension system to reduce vibrations transmitted to the vehicle body and the cabin, improving passenger comfort. 
• SIMULIA Acoustics: SIMULIA also offers Acoustics, a simulation software that models a vehicle’s acoustic properties. Acoustics can predict how sound will travel throughout the cabin and identify where noise can be reduced. It allows simulation of the acoustic behavior of the vehicle from the exterior and interior points of view. 

• SIMULIA Wave6: Wave6 provides unique analysis methods for efficiently and accurately simulating noise and vibration across the audible frequency range. By integrating Wave6 into your design process, you can ensure noise and vibration performance is built into your product at the design stage, which reduces the risk of discovering expensive noise and vibration problems during the physical prototyping process. 
• SIMULIA fe-safe: Finally, SIMULIA offers a tool called fe-safe which can be used to analyze the durability and fatigue of the vehicle. Fe-safe can predict how the car will hold up over time and identify areas where fatigue or damage may occur, which can help identify potential noise and vibration issues. 

Beyond Tire Noise Analysis with SIMULIA 

In addition to tire noise analysis, SIMULIA can also explore other aspects of tire performance. For example, engineers can use it to simulate the behavior of tires under different load and pressure conditions or to examine the effects of varying grip and handling tread patterns. This allows them to optimize tire designs for various other driving conditions, from high-speed highway driving to off-road use. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, tire noise analysis is a critical aspect of tire design, and advanced simulation techniques such as those offered by SIMULIA play a crucial role in this process. By simulating the behavior of tires under various conditions, engineers can develop new tire designs that provide superior performance, safety, and comfort. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, these simulation techniques will become increasingly important, enabling engineers to develop new, innovative tire designs that meet the ever-changing demands of drivers and their vehicles.