초록 close In this study, the structural analyses were carried out with the old and new wheel models installed at the automotive tires. The stress and deformation at the middle circumference of wheel were seen to be greatest at two models. Also, the stress and deformation were smallest at the edge of wheel. The maximum deformation of the old model B is about five times larger than that of the new model A. The maximum equivalent stress of the old model B can be seen to be twice as large as the new model A. Also, it can be seen that the new model A is more stable than the old model B in terms of strength. It can be seen that the deformation energy of the old model B is 19 times larger than that of the new model A. And it is thought that the new model A is much more durable than the old model B in terms of impact. By utilizing this study result, the stress and deformation are investigated without the strength test of wheel installed at the automotive tire, and the durability can be seen.

Among many potential problems associated with automobiles, the problem regarded as most sensitive and important to the customers is the automobile’s quietness. In particular, because the trend toward the high-performance automobiles is increasing, the quietness should be considered reflecting the increasing demand of the customers for the comfort of automobile ride. Road noise is the low-frequency range in the region of 20Hz to 350Hz, generated when the tires are making contacts with the rough road surface while the automobile is running, in which the noises are resonating within the passenger compartment or with the automobile suspension. In this research, among the factors related to the road noise, the influencing factors associated with the suspension and the tire design were investigated. In particular, among the tire design factors, the structure and the rubber material were investigated as the influencing factors, and for the investigative purpose, experimental tires were manufactured and road noise evaluations were conducted thorough actual feeling tests. Then the test results and correlations were analyzed using the 6-Sigma statistical method. Results from this study shows that, among the tire design factors, the apex is the most influencing factor, in which the height of the apex is the key. The influential factors were found out to be apex height, belt angle, and tread hardness, in that order, and when the suspension is of a same kind, the tendency of the road noise was found to be similar.

Articulation Index(AI) is the one of the evaluating methods for the interior sound of the automobiles. The AI measures the articulation level of the sound in the vehicle cabin as passengers talk to another. In this study, the effects of AI were investigated according to the various structures of tire. As the structures of tire were changed, the road noise of the vehicle tire was measured using objective measurement. From this measurement data, the AI was calculated. The AI of front is larger than that of rear. Increasing the tread hardness of tire or decreasing the apex height the AI is improved.

Articulation Index(AI) is the one of the evaluating methods for the interior sound of the automobiles. The AI measures the articulation level of the sound in the vehicle cabin as passengers talk to another. In this study, the effects of AI were investigated according to the various structures of tire. As the structures of tire were changed, the road noise of the vehicle tire was measured using objective measurement. From this measurement data, the AI was calculated. The AI of front is larger than that of rear. Increasing the tread hardness of tire or decreasing the apex height the AI is improved.