Tire Tread Void Structure for Noise and Handling Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire treads do not adequately address noise performance while maintaining reasonable handling performance, as previous solutions either fail to improve noise sufficiently or degrade handling performance.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread design featuring a contact face with at least one circumferential groove and transverse grooves, including compressive contact elements with a volumetric void ratio of at least 25% and an aspect ratio of no more than 70%, along with shoulder regions having a specific width and potentially a distinct rubber composition, to absorb deformation and reduce excitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If relatively soft rubber is placed in the tread to reduce vibration and improve noise performance, then noise performance is improved, but handling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into different regions (center region and shoulder regions) with different rubber compound hardnesses. The shoulder regions use softer rubber (lower dynamic elastic modulus) to reduce noise and vibration, while the center region uses harder rubber to maintain handling performance. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread base is segmented into multiple regions with different rubber compounds. The tread base includes a center region and shoulder regions, each with specifically formulated rubber compounds having different dynamic elastic moduli. This segmentation enables independent optimization of noise reduction in shoulder regions and handling in the center region.
2Reliability
If the tread structure is made stiffer to improve handling performance, then handling performance is improved, but noise performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the tread have different stiffness characteristics. The shoulder regions have lower dynamic elastic modulus for noise reduction, while the center region has higher dynamic elastic modulus for handling. This creates a gradient of stiffness across the tread width.
Solution Approach 2:
The tread uses composite rubber compounds with different dynamic elastic moduli in different regions. The tread base comprises multiple rubber compounds formulated to have specific dynamic elastic modulus ranges, creating a composite structure that balances noise reduction and handling performance.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the volumetric void ratio is increased to absorb deformation and reduce noise, then noise performance is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The volumetric void ratio is specifically controlled within an optimal range (20-40%) to balance noise reduction and structural stability. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient void space for deformation absorption while maintaining adequate structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressive contact elements with specific volumetric void ratios are strategically placed in the shoulder regions where noise generation is significant. This local application of void structures targets noise reduction without compromising the overall structural stability of the tread.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively improves noise performance while maintaining acceptable handling characteristics by absorbing deformation and reducing tread excitation.
Implementation Method 1
a volumetric void ratio of the at least one compressive contact element in a unit region surrounded by a center of the at least one circumferential groove and a center of the plurality of transverse grooves delimiting the compressive contact element among the plurality of contact elements is at least equal to 25%
Data Source
AI summary
The tread has a contact face that is provided with at least one circumferential groove and a transverse grooves opening to the contact face and delimiting contact elements. The tread has a center region and shoulder regions and is provided with at least one compressive contact element among the contact elements. A volumetric void ratio of the compressive contact element in a unit region surrounded by a center of the at least one circumferential groove and a center of the transverse grooves delimiting the compressive contact element is at least equal to 25%. An aspect ratio, which is defined as a ratio of a surface of the compressive contact element supposed to contact with ground divided by a sum of a surface area of the compressive contact element touching with air other than the surface of the compressive contact element supposed to contact with ground, is at most 70%.