On line estimation of rolling resistance for intelligent tires

The analysis of a rolling tire is a complex problem of nonlinear elasticity. Although in the technical literature some tire models have been presented, the phenomena involved in the tire rolling are far to be completely understood. In particular, small knowledge comes even from experimental direct observation of the rolling tire, in terms of dynamic contact patch, instantaneous dissipation due to rubber-road friction and hysteretic behavior of the tire structure, and instantaneous grip. This paper illustrates in details a new powerful technology that the research group has developed in the context of the project OPTYRE. A new wireless optical system based on Fiber Bragg Grating strain sensors permits a direct observation of the inner tire stress when rolling in real conditions on the road. From this information, following a new suitably developed tire model, it is possible to identify the instant area of the contact patch, the grip conditions as well the instant dissipation, which is the object of the present work.