Improvement of impact performance of automobile tyres using lattice structure designs and additive manufacturing approaches

Emerging technologies are facilitating the development of airless tyres with high per-formance in challenging road conditions. This study used FEA to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of three tyre designs: two commercial models and a unique re-entrant lattice structure. The results showed that the re-entrant design offered superior versatility, pro-viding resistance to deformation while enabling the optimisation of parameters like stiffness and strength. The novel design exhibited mechanical properties twice as strong as commercial alternatives, with 66% higher impact absorption performance and 24% reduction in weight compared to Design X. Commercial designs A and B were lighter by 40% and 42%, respectively. While weight reduction goals were met, diffe-rent effects on strength properties were observed across the designs. The compression test and SEA demonstrated that the original design offers significantly higher energy storage capacity, elastic deformation capability and durability compared to other tyre designs. With a specific energy absorption of 22615.86 Nmm/kg, the original design exhibits the highest performance, providing superior durability and flexibility under dynamic and static loads. Although commercial design B provides energy absorption close to the original design, it lags behind in terms of elastic capacity. Commercial de-sign A and design X were insufficient to meet the engineering requirements with limi-ted energy absorption and low elastic capacity, respectively. Furthermore, the simula-tion results were in agreement with the experimental data, which supported the accu-racy of the analyses and the validity of the design in industrial applications.