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The new numerical procedure for hydroplaning has been developed by considering the following three important factors; fluid/structure interaction, tire rolling, and practical tread pattern. The tire was analyzed by FEM with Lagrangian formulation and the fluid is analyzed by FVM with Eulerian formulation. Since the tire and the fluid are modeled separately and their coupling is automatically computed by the coupling element, the fluid/structure interaction of the complex geometry such as the tire with the tread pattern can be analyzed practically. We verified the predictability of the hydroplaning simulation in the different parameters such as the water flow, the velocity dependence of hydroplaning, and the effect of the tread pattern on hydroplaning. In order to predict the streamline in the contact patch, the procedure of the global-local analysis was developed.

A new tire design procedure, capable of determining the optimum tire contour, optimum compound characteristics in each tire material, optimum tire construction and optimum pitch sequence, was developed by combining finite element method or analytical method with optimization technique such as mathematical programming or genetic algorithm. The new design procedure was verified to improve the maneuverability, rolling resistance, durability, tire noise and other tire performances through indoor drum tests and field tests. Furthermore, unprecedented tire designs were obtained through the new design procedure.