Finite-Element Analysis of Car Tyre Contact with Support Surface on the basis of Shell Model

The geometrically nonlinear contact problem of the tyre compression is formulated and main stages of its solving are considered. To meet the contact condition the finite-element method is used with a procedure of Lagrangian coefficients. Tyre deformations are described by the Timoshenko theory of shells. Computations are performed with the help of the quadrangular four-node shell element MITC4 for which the governing relations and test results are given in detail. An example of the car tyre compression is presented.