Vehicle Tire Tread Groove Geometry for Crack-Resistant Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tire treads with profile grooves are susceptible to cracking and uneven force distribution, which affects their stability and wear characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The profile groove is designed with a triangular shape in the radially lower region, featuring concave and convex curves with specific radii of curvature and symmetry, ensuring uniform force distribution and reduced susceptibility to cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the profile groove has a wider radially lower region than radially upper region, then the groove capacity and drainage performance are improved, but the groove walls become more susceptible to cracking due to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by defining the radially lower region with concave curvatures at the groove flanks and a convex curvature at the groove bottom, replacing sharp angles with smooth curved transitions. This distributes stress more evenly along the groove walls, preventing stress concentration at sharp corners while maintaining the widened groove capacity for improved drainage performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the groove cross-section by specifying that the radially lower region has a greater maximum width than the radially upper width. This parameter change increases the groove capacity while the accompanying curvature specifications ensure that the increased width does not compromise structural integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the radially lower region uses straight flank segments with small angles, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the force distribution becomes uneven causing stress focusing at the groove bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces straight flank segments with curved flank sections that have concave curvatures. This curvature design naturally distributes forces more uniformly across the groove structure, preventing stress focusing at the groove bottom while remaining manufacturable through standard tire molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an asymmetric cross-sectional profile where the radially lower region is wider than the radially upper region, with specific curvature characteristics at different locations. This asymmetric design optimizes both force distribution and manufacturing feasibility by concentrating the complex curved geometry only where needed for stress distribution.
3Reliability
If the profile groove has a triangular shape with large radii of curvature, then the cracking susceptibility is reduced, but the groove width and capacity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric qualities to different regions of the groove cross-section. The radially lower region features large radii of curvature for cracking resistance, while the radially upper region maintains sufficient width for capacity. This local differentiation of geometric properties allows the groove to simultaneously achieve both high reliability and adequate capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by transitioning from a two-dimensional width consideration to a three-dimensional curved surface design. The concave and convex curvatures create a volumetric optimization where the groove maintains adequate capacity through its curved three-dimensional form rather than relying solely on maximum width.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tread for a vehicle tire, wherein a profile groove with a radially upper and radially lower region and with a first and second groove flank is formed in the tread, wherein a maximum width of the profile groove measured in the radially lower region between a first point of the first groove flank and a second point of the second groove flank is greater than an upper width measured in the radially upper region between the two groove flanks, wherein a bottom of the profile groove is concavely curved at a radially lowest point, wherein the groove flanks have concave curvatures at the first point and at the second point, wherein the curvatures around the radially lowest point and around the first point are connected by a first straight-line connection and the curvatures around the radially lowest point and around the second point are connected by a second straight-line connection.The first and second straight lines are at an angle of 20° to 80° to each other.