Reconstruction of Tyre Characteristics Based on Vehicle Dynamics Measurements with a Race Car

The simulation of multi-body-systems is one of the most important tools for design and analysis of technical systems. The use of this tool, especially in the field of driving dynamics, allows a detailed modelling and description of driving behaviour and (chassis-) kinematics. Even in motorsport the simulation of vehicle dynamics becomes an essential factor. If the simulation of the vehicle – including the tyre simulation – is used to optimize the driving behaviour, a badly parameterized tyre model can result in suboptimal set-up parameters for the chassis, the aerodynamic and the drive train [1]. Although the tyre is one of the most important components in the field of driving dynamics [2], its influence and effects cannot be described precisely till now. Due to that fact, a lot of different tyre models have been developed to model the characteristics of the tyre in various use cases and conditions [3, 4, 5]. State-of-the-art tyre models differ in their modelling approach and their parameters, but the data, that are required for their parameterisation, are usually the same. These data can be generated by measurements on a tyre test bed, a dynamometer testing trailer or other testing devices. But still there is a lack of an integrated process for handling tyre models ranging from the choice of a suitable tyre model to the verification of the received results. To parameterize a tyre model many different tests are necessary, which are cost and time intensive. It is a well known fact that tyre measurements of the same type of tyre on different testing facilities lead to more or less different results with respect to tyre contact forces and moments respectively [6]. An alternative is to adjust the model parameters by means of subsequent full vehicle measurements, as long as the tyre model’s parameters have got physical meaning [7]. In conclusion a big demand for a method exists enabling the generation of tyre model data directly from appropriate vehicle measurements. An important advantage of this method would be that the acquired data reflect the tyre characteristics under real road conditions. [1] Schöggl, P., „Setup Optimization in Respect of Aerodynamics, suspension, chassis and engine”, Global Motorsport Congress 10.-11.11.2004, Frankfurt, 2004 [2] Mitschke, M., Wallentowitz, H., “Dynamik der Kraftfahrzeuge”, 4. Auflage, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2004 [3] Hirschberg, W., Rill, G., Weinfurter, H., “Tire model TMeasy”, Vehicle System Dynamics, Vol. 45, Suppl.1, p. 101-119, 2007 [4] Pacejka, H. B., “Tyre and Vehicle Dynamics”, Second Edition, Butter-worth-Heinemann, 2006 [5] Schieschke, R., Wurster, U., „IPG-TIRE – ein umfassendes, effizientes Reifenmodell zum Einsatz in Simulationsumgebungen“, Automobil-Industrie 5/88, 1988 [6] Zamow, J., “Messung des Reifenverhaltens auf unterschiedlichen Prüfständen”, VDI Berichte 1224, Düsseldorf, 1995 [7] Hirschberg, W., Palcak, F., Rill, G. Sotnik, J., “Reliable Vehicle Dynamics in Spite of Uncertain Input Data”, Proc. of the 12th EAEC Congress 2009, Bratislava, 2009