A Comparison Between Modal and Wave Propagation Models for Simulation of Tire-Pavement Interaction Noise

Induced vibrations due to tire-pavement interaction is one of the main sources of vehicle exterior noise. Its dominant spectral content is approximately within 500-1500 Hz. However, current numerical Finite-Element based models are acceptable only at low frequencies and fail to predict noise over the frequency range of interest. Therefore, alternative numerical/analytical physically-based models need to be developed. The aim of this work is to contrast two tire dynamic modeling approaches. The first one corresponds to a classic orthotropic plate representation of a tire, where the response is based on modal behavior along its transversal and circumferential directions. In addition, equivalent uniform tire properties are assumed for the belt and sidewalls. The second approach is defined by an unwrapped tire representation where waves decay and propagate along its assumed infinite circumferential direction. Both models ignore tire curvature and therefore are not accurate at low frequencies; beneath its characteristic ring frequency. Simulated responses for a particular tire size are presented in terms of modal frequencies, Frequency Response Functions (FRF), and analysis of wave dispersion relationships. Furthermore, predicted results show that the wave propagation model is more accurate than the modal approach, if validated against experimental data over the relevant frequencies.