Analysis of mechanical characteristics of inserts supporting run-flat tire during pressure relief

Inserts supporting run-flat tire is an important guarantee for safety, mobility and trafficability of military wheeled vehicles. The mechanical characteristics in the process of pressure relief is an important factor that affects the driving ability of vehicles. In order to study the change law, the large deflection and nonlinear finite element model of run-flat tire was established based on simulation using ABAQUS, and the accuracy of the model was verified by tire load characteristic test. The change law of tire displacement and contact pressure under different inflation pressures was studied and compared with normal tire. The results show that under the rated load, there is a significant piecewise nonlinear characteristic between the displacement and tire inflation pressure. When the insert is involved in the load bearing, the radial stiffness of the tire significantly increases. In the process of pressure relief, the maximum contact pressure of the tire extends from the center of the contact impression to both ends. When the tire inflation pressure is reduced to 25·kPa, the central pressure of the tread gradually increases, and the phenomenon of tread warpage is improved, which enhances the distribution uniformity of the contact pressure in the pressure relief and zero-pressure conditions.