ABSTRACT
Rolling resistance of a vehicle plays an important role in its fuel consumption. There are different mechanisms involved in the rolling resistance, namely, vehicle dynamics, tire bending and deformation, and tire tread deformation. Pavement surface macro-texture is one of the factors that influences the rolling resistance mechanisms of tire bending and tire and tread deformations. The main aim of this study is to develop a mechanistic model that is able to capture the effect of macro-texture on the tire’s rolling resistance. For this purpose, a 3D finite element model of a tire is developed. The profile macro-texture is extracted from measured profiles and characterized using the root mean square (RMS) parameter. The rolling resistance coefficient is then calculated for surfaces with different RMS values. A comparison of the results with previous experimental studies shows that the model is capable of capturing the effect of macro-texture accurately.
