Application of Fatigue Methods Based on Fracture Mechanics for Tire Compound Development

Abstract

Abstract It is important to develop laboratory fatigue methods which are predictive of tire performance to minimize development time and costs. A basic premise of this paper is that fatigue testing based on fracture mechanics principles has major advantages over traditional methods or those which attempt to simulate the geometry of the composite tire in the laboratory. Basic fracture-mechanics theory will be reviewed, followed by summaries of previously published studies. Three new studies will illustrate the wide applicability of the methodology.