Fatigue life prediction of tire sidewall using modified Arrhenius equation. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moon, Byungwoo; Kim, Keekeun; Park, Keontae; Park, Soo; Seok, Chang-Sung
• Is Part Of: Mechanics of materials. Volume 147(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Tire sidewall -- Fatigue test -- Arrhenius equation -- Crosslinking structure -- Weibull distribution; Strength of materials -- Periodicals; Mechanics, Applied -- Periodicals; Résistance des matériaux -- Périodiques; Mécanique appliquée -- Périodiques; Mechanics, Applied; Strength of materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2020.103405
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-6636

Abstract

Highlights: A new fatigue parameter to elucidate the mechanism of fatigue life changes. Accelerated test results using the modified Arrhenius equation. Chain scission phenomenon under a specific aging condition. Procedure to predict a fatigue life of aged rubber (Fatigue test, method to predict life, Weibull distribution, and new fatigue parameter). Abstract: Prolonged exposure of tires to sunlight leads to hardened and cracked sidewall rubber, which significantly decreases the fatigue life of the tire. Aging changes the rubber properties, which affects the safety of the sidewall, reduces the ride comfort, and even causes accidents. Hence, fatigue test procedures and regulations for tire materials are necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of vehicle tires. However, when developing a new tire sidewall, manufacturers typically only test the changes in physical properties of compounds. This study proposes a method of evaluating the fatigue life of aged tire sidewalls. In this process, by applying the Arrhenius equation, each aging condition is converted into its equivalent room temperature aging condition to predict the fatigue life changes with respect to aging. Moreover, a new fatigue parameter is presented to analyze the fatigue behavior of aged rubber and elucidate the cause of fatigue life changes. The probability distribution of fatigue life is expressed using Weibull distribution, and the durability performance is evaluated by comparing the fatigue life of unaged and aged tires.