MEASURING GRIP AND THE CONTACT PATCH

David Woodward, Phillip Millar, Shaun Friel, Campbell Waddell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
2000 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A vehicle or air-craft tire interacts with a surfacing through its contact patch. Wet grip is one of the most important properties of a highway or airfield surfacing. This paper looks at the contact patch for the GripTester device, widely used around the world to assess both highway and air-field skid resistance. Contact patch properties were measured using a XSENSOR pressure mapping system. The relationships between inflation pressure and properties such as contact area, length and width were assessed for a new and worn GripTester tires. Pressure mapping was found to provide high quality data with the found relationships agreeing with previous research. Contact patch data was related to in-situ measurement of wet grip measured using GripTester fitted with both tires at a range of tire inflation pressures and for a range of asphalt surfacing types. This found robust relationships between inflation pressure, measured wet grip, contact patch area and tire wear. Most relationships were as expected, however it was found that increasing contact area related to a decrease in measured wet grip for the new tire. The distribution of contact pressure within the contact patch is as suggested as a one of a number of areas that warrant further consideration.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
Place of PublicationProceedings of the 2013 Airfield and Highway Pavement Conference
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages841-854
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)978-0-7844-1300-5
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 2013
EventAirfield and Highway Pavement 2013 - Los Angeles
Duration: 1 Jan 2013 → …

Conference

ConferenceAirfield and Highway Pavement 2013
Period1/01/13 → …

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