Investigation of Tire Longitudinal Relaxation Length and Its Effect on Dry Stopping Performance

A study of tire longitudinal relaxation length (Lx) and the potential influence of Lx on ABS dry stopping performance of passenger tire-vehicle systems is presented. 

Tire relaxation length (Lx) measurement, finite element modeling and assessment of several tire and loading parameters influencing Lx are presented.  

Computer simulation studies of tire-vehicle interaction during ABS maneuvers on dry surfaces are presented.  The conditions necessary for tire Lx to influence ABS controller efficiency are examined.  

Field testing of several representative ABS controller responses for defining typical operational frequencies on dry surfaces is provided.  Based on such data, together with simulation studies, insight into the practical potential for tire Lx values to influence vehicle dry stopping performance is gained.