Fatigue Life Prediction for Cord-Rubber Composite Tires Using a Global-Local Finite Element Method

A failure analysis, based on fracture mechanics, may be useful for predicting the lifetime of a cord-reinforced rubber composite pneumatic tire. This paper presents a new three-dimensional Finite Element (FE) local model to calculate the energy release rate at the belt edge region. The new local model uses a three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element Modeling (FEM) fracture analysis based on a steady-state rolling assumption, in conjunction with a global-local technique in ABAQUS. Within the local model, a J-integral variation study is performed in the crack region. This consists of a prediction of the crack propagation direction and a mesh density analysis of the crack model. Furthermore, the study is used to determine the crack growth rate analysis. This study assumes that a flaw exists inside the tire, in the local model, due to a mechanical inhomogeneity introduced in the manufacturing of the tire. This paper also considers how different driving conditions, such as free-rolling, braking and traction, contribute to the detrimental effects of belt separation in tire failure.