Numerical Study of Dynamic Hydroplaning Effects on Motorcycle Tires

Hydroplaning is a hydrodynamic phenomenon and has crucial effects on motorcycle tires that roll on a wet road at high speed. It causes an accident that results in numerous injuries and deaths of motorcyclists. This accident happens to an overestimation of the dynamic tire performance. Therefore, this research aims to propose a mathematical model to predict the maximum hydroplaning speed of motorcycle tires. The motorcycle tire was experimentally performed the hydroplaning test by the developing machine. The fluid-structure interaction (FSI), in which a rolling tire interacted with fluid on the road, was modeled using finite element and finite volume methods. It compared against the experiment and was in good agreement. Therefore, motorcycle tire hydroplaning was studied by varying velocities, inflation pressures, and carrying loads. It was found that the hydroplaning speeds had a serious relationship only to the carrying loads. Therefore, the novel function of hydroplaning velocity was established in the carrying load form. It is simple to specify the maximum hydroplaning speed of motorcycle tires. In addition, it will be a good and novel guidance tool for motorcycle riding communities and motorcycle tire manufacturers to calculate hydroplaning resistance of their motorcycle tires.