Structural Analysis of Non-pneumatic Tires with Hexagonal Spokes

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Structural Analysis of Non-pneumatic Tires with Hexagonal Spokes

Nikhil, Akul / M., Aswath / Sakshi, B. M. / Ponangi, Babu Rao / M., Kiran / Charan, R. S.

Non-pneumatic tires (NPTs) have been considered a viable option to replace pneumatic tires (PTs) as the air-filled structures are replaced by flexible spokes in the case of NPT. In the present study, a static analysis of NPT with two hexagonal spokes configurations (Type-A and Type-C), variable cell wall thickness, and tread designs has been carried out. Also a modal analysis of NPTs has been carried out to check the natural frequency and mode shapes of the NPT. Results in terms of deflection, contact pressure, vertical stiffness, and the stresses induced in the tire are compared with that of the PT. There is a reduction in vertical stiffness of the tire compared to PTs by 25.7% and 16.7% in the case of NPT-C1 and NPT-A1, respectively. Increasing the cell wall thickness, the vertical stiffness is more than that of PTs. Reducing the tread size resulted in the reduction of contact pressure. The stresses induced in the traditional PT are very high compared to that of NPTs, and the load-carrying capacity of the latter is higher than that of the former. The NPT tends to outperform the PT in terms of vertical stiffness, contact pressure, and stresses induced in them and, hence, can be a promising replacement to the PT shortly.