Experimental analysis of the contact pressure distribution in an off-road tyre
This paper presents the results of an extended method of measurement on a tyre for an off-road vehicle 175/82 R16, inserting Prescale paper at the contact with the ground. The experimental analysis of the pressures is carried out, in a cross-sectional direction, in five zones corresponding to the middle of the single dowels that constitute the tread. The results are analysed by means of suitable software so as to refer easily to the value of the pressure. The obtained results are critically analysed and the results are compared with those obtained by the formulae of Rowland and MacLaurin, and by the nominal pressure at the 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. Furthermore, a good agreement is found between the tyre deflection calculated and measured experimentally.