Modelling loads at tyre/ rim interface

[RTHansen]

I am a final year engineering student working with a team of students developing and racing a single seater racing car (formula SAE). We are developing 13" rims for the car and are looking for Studies or Papers so we can better understand how the rims are loaded by the tyre and use FEA software to analyse and optimise our designs. The tyre and rim manufacturers we have contacted seem reluctant to give out this information, which has forced us to look elsewhere. Can anyone help us?
Thanks...

[Alastor187]

Originally Posted by RTHansen

I am a final year engineering student working with a team of students developing and racing a single seater racing car (formula SAE). We are developing 13" rims for the car and are looking for Studies or Papers so we can better understand how the rims are loaded by the tyre and use FEA software to analyse and optimise our designs. The tyre and rim manufacturers we have contacted seem reluctant to give out this information, which has forced us to look elsewhere. Can anyone help us?
Thanks...

I think your best bet for reputable information is going to be the SAE website (www.sae.org). Although most of the papers and books cost money your university library should be able to temporally obtain almost anything for free.

[CapriRacer]

You might also try Tire Society. This is one of the areas they publish papers on.

But honestly, the subject is so complex, and requires some fairly sophisticated software, why not just buy a set of wheels and be done with it!

[Grant@Tirerack]

You might want to contact the following:
www.tireindustry.org

www.itra.com

www.tana.net

All of these are industry groups that do testing and may be able to provide some insight.