Simulation Tests of Biaxial Vehicle Motion after a “Tire Blow-Out” 2005-01-0410

”Tire blow-out” is a fast loss of air pressure that fills a vehicle tire, effecting from a puncture or a fatigue of tire structure. Statistical data, published in the United States, showed that “tire blow-out” caused more than 300,000 road accidents in the period of 1992–96 [1, 3]. Over 2000 people died in those accidents and many more were injured [1, 3]. The data and successful attempts of simulation presented in the work [1], prompted the author to try modeling and simulating this case of vehicle motion. The main emphasis in the hereto presented tests was put on qualitative assessment of vehicle behavior after a “tire blow-out”. The results presented in the work [1] show that the smallest motion disturbance of a vehicle takes place when the driver does not react (by turning the steering wheel or pressing the brake pedal). So, an assumption was made that the driver keeps a zero value of the steering wheel turning angle and pressure on the brake pedal.

A description of changes in elastic force of a tire along with declining internal pressure, as assumed by authors of this work [1], were assessed for correctness and then modified by using own tests of radial stiffness of tired wheels. Ability of the vehicle to balance the effects of an emergency situation described after a “blow-out” of either a front or a rear wheel tire was tested on dry and wet surface for longitudinal rectilinear motion. The impact of tire pressure reduction time on the course and effects of the analyzed cases of motion was assessed. Simulation tests were also conducted for more complex maneuvers, with a disturbance effecting from a damaged tire: for circular steady state motion and ramp angular input on the steering wheel.