Contact Patch Measurements During Hydroplaning Events

摘要

Systems and methods for determining the contact patch parameters of a tire while rolling on deformable surfaces, such as during a hydroplaning event, are provided. More particularly, a piezoelectric sensor configured to provide a piezoelectric sensor output signal indicative of the time-varying curvature of a rolling tire can be mounted in a tire. The piezoelectric sensor output signal can be analyzed to detect a signal perturbation corresponding to the hydroplaning event. One or more characteristics of the contact patch during the hydroplaning event can be analyzed based on the signal perturbation. For instance, a parameter indicative of the shape of the contact patch during the hydroplaning event can be assessed based on the signal perturbation.

主权项

1. A method of analyzing a contact patch of a tire during a hydroplaning event, comprising:
obtaining a piezoelectric sensor output signal from at least one piezoelectric sensor mounted in a tire, the piezoelectric sensor output signal being generated at least in part during a hydroplaning event; analyzing, with one or more processing devices, the piezoelectric sensor output signal to determine a contact patch entry and a contact patch exit for the tire; detecting, with the one or more processing devices, a signal perturbation corresponding to the hydroplaning event in the piezoelectric sensor output signal, the signal perturbation occurring between the contact patch entry and the contact patch exit; and assessing a parameter of the contact patch based at least in part on the signal perturbation.