EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE CONTACT PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN AN OFF-ROAD TYRE

In this paper the results of experimental tests are shown, lead by extended method of measurement, on a tire for an off-road vehicle 175/82 R16, inserting Prescale paper at the contact with the ground. The experimental analysis of the pressures is lead, in cross-sectional direction, in 5 zones correspondents to the middle of the single dowels constituting the tread. The results are analyzed by means of software predisposed to the scope so as to go back easily to the value of the pressure. The obtained results are critically analyzed and the result are compared with those obtained by the formulas of Rowland and MacLaurin, and by the nominal pressure at ground, concluding that the expression of MMP for vehicles on wheels is simply to consider a pointer of the performances, in comparison with other vehicles or wheels, rather than a real prediction of the pressure on the ground. Besides a good agreement is found between the tire deflection calculated and measured experimentally.