The aim of this study is to develop a friction model, which captures observed effects of dry friction on the handling characteristics of rolling tires. A phenomenological friction model is chosen, where the parameters are identified using a two step experimental / numerical approach. Firstly friction experiments are performed on a Laboratory Abrasion and skid Tester to develop a pressure part of the friction model [1]. Secondly braking experiments at different velocities with a specially designed non-production tire are conducted to obtain a velocity dependent parameter set. This is described in the present contribution.

The derived friction model is coupled to a FE model of the tire, which is constructed in the commercial FE package ABAQUS. The steady-state transport approach is used to efficiently compute steady-state solutions. The basic handling characteristics, such as pure braking, pure cornering, and combined slip under different loads, inflation pressures and velocities are evaluated and compared with experiments performed with the TNO Tyre Test Trailer.

Acknowledgements: This research is funded by the CCAR project ‘FEM Tyre Modelling’, in cooperation with Apollo Vredestein B.V. and TNO Science and Industry.

[1] R. van der Steen, I. Lopez, H. Nijmeijer, “Experimental and numerical study of friction and stiffness characteristics of small rolling tires”, Tire Science and Technology, Accepted for publication.