The Influence of the Honeycomb Design Parameters on the Mechanical Behavior of Non-Pneumatic Tires

Non-Pneumatic Tires with honeycomb structure have complex design and their mechanical behavior is influenced by their geometry. As a result, deep understanding of the effect of various design parameters is very important for design optimization. In this numerical analysis, the effect of a wide range of internal geometrical parameters on the tire's weight and mechanical behavior was quantified. For this purpose, a parametric finite element model was designed and subjected to vertical loading to assess its maximum stress, contact pressure, maximum vertical displacement and energy absorbed during loading. The analysis indicated that vertical stiffness is strongly affected by the density, thickness and internal angles of the honeycomb cells. The internal angles of the honeycomb also appeared capable of changing the tire's vertical stiffness without changing its weight, which is associated with the tire's fuel efficiency and dynamic properties. A decrease in cell length or an increase in cell density was capable of significantly reducing the internal stresses. Proper tuning of cell thickness or cell length could also significantly reduce the magnitude of contact pressure developed by producing a more even distribution of loading between the tread and the road.