Development of a heat generation model for tyre internal layers deformation

The aim of the present work is to develop the strain energy loss model, capable of describing the heat generation resulting from the deformation of the tyre’s internal layers. An accurate SEL model is crucial to predict the correct temperature evolution of the different layers of the tyre and to understand the working conditions of the tyre. The SEL model developed is a physically based model designed to operate in conjunction with the tyre thermal model in order to predict the temperature of the tyre layers. The development of the model is preceded by an analysis of indoor tyre characterisation tests, with particular focus on energy dissipation and temperature evolution under different tyre operating conditions. Subsequently, the SEL model is developed to include peculiar behaviours of the tyre observed in the indoor measurements and improve computational efficiency to ensure compatibility with Driver-In-the-Loop simulator applications. The results obtained with the SEL model after the development process show good agreement with the experimental data and results available in the literature. The present master’s thesis was developed in collaboration with the Motorsport Research and Development Department of Pirelli Tyre S.p.A., in Milan, and focuses on tyres manufactured for motorsport applications.