Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


thesis corrected.pdf (4.48 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Aerodynamic Analysis of Conventional and Spherical Tires

Pakala, Akshay Kumar
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1606237030779529

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science in Engineering, University of Akron, Mechanical Engineering.
Goodyear unveiled its Eagle 360 concept tires in 2017 and believes that these smart spherical tires, being equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence, will replace the typical cylindrical tires for driverless vehicles. The aerodynamic performance of these tires was not evaluated yet. By understanding the aerodynamic performance of spherical tires, one can improve the fuel consumption and performance of vehicles. The purpose of this research is to study the drag of the smooth and grooved spherical tires and compare their performance to the conventional tires. Using a k-transition turbulence model, the airflow around the spherical tire is analyzed at Re=5.3x105 for numerous setups including isolated stationary tire, isolated rotating tire and moving rotating tire in the presence of rigid ground. Equations of conservation of mass and momentum and turbulence model are discretized using the finite-volume method and solved using second order upwind discretization scheme and SIMPLEC algorithm. All simulations involved in the present study are conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. To validate the approach, the 2-D and 3-D computations for conventional cylindrical tires are conducted and the drag coefficient is compared to prior experimental and computational literature results. The 2-D simulations are conducted for Reynolds numbers ranging from 105 to 106 for several representative configurations, for instance, isolated stationary tire, isolated rotating tire and moving rotating tire with and without wheelhouses (curved and flat) in the presence of road. The 2-D simulations for Reynolds number ranging from 105 to 5x105 are conducted using the k-transition turbulence model and for Reynolds number ranging from 6x105 to 106 with k-ε realizable turbulence model. To avoid numerical divergence, the k-transition turbulence model is solved using SIMPLEC algorithm and k-ε realizable turbulence model with coupled algorithm. 3-D simulations of airflow around conventional tires are conducted for an isolated stationary tire at Reynolds numbers of 105 and 2x105 and for the stationary tire and moving rotating tire in the presence of rigid ground for Re=5.3x105 using the k-transition turbulence model. For 2-D and 3-D simulations, an optimum numerical grid that captures the separation of boundary layer and formation of the low-pressure zone behind tire is selected. The simulation results of the spherical tires indicate a 107.9% increase in the aerodynamic drag for the isolated stationary tire after introducing threads. Nevertheless, for an isolated rotating spherical tire, only a 22% increase in drag is obtained due to tire threads. The drag increases by 36% for the moving rotating threaded spherical tire in the presence of ground, compared to the slick tire. The drag coefficient for the spherical tire is determined to be less than one half of the drag coefficient for conventional cylindrical tires of the same diameter (0.2158 m) with the tire length to diameter ratio of 0.37. Therefore, the drag force for spherical tire is comparable to passenger vehicle tires.
Alex Povitsky (Advisor)
Francis Loth (Committee Member)
Scott Sawyer (Committee Member)
142 p.
Aerospace Engineering; Applied Mathematics; Educational Software; Engineering; Experiments; Fluid Dynamics; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Theoretical Mathematics
Goodyear Eagle-360 spherical concept tires; conventional tires; Turbulent flow; k-epsilon model; k-epsilon realizable model; k-transition turbulence model; drag force; drag coefficient; lift coefficient; aerodynamics;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pakala, A. K. (2020). Aerodynamic Analysis of Conventional and Spherical Tires [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1606237030779529

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pakala, Akshay Kumar. Aerodynamic Analysis of Conventional and Spherical Tires. 2020. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1606237030779529.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pakala, Akshay Kumar. "Aerodynamic Analysis of Conventional and Spherical Tires." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1606237030779529

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1606237030779529
468
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.