60 Second Spotlight on James Knowles, Loughborough University
Ahead of the Tyre Testing & Modelling seminar at HORIBA MIRA on 20 March, we caught up with Rob Cherry to hear his thoughts on the topic.
Briefly explain your current role.
My job as an academic involves creating new knowledge and understanding about how tyres work, so that the vehicles which use them can be designed to work as effectively as possible.
Why do you believe tyre modelling is critical for automotive innovation today?
Tyres are the only points of contact between road and vehicle, meaning they generate forces in response to steering, braking and throttle commands. Modelling how a particular tyre generates its forces is key not only to predicting a vehicle’s driving characteristics during early development, but also for effective design of emergency assistance systems and future autonomous capabilities. With effective tyre modelling, virtual vehicle development can maximise the potential benefits offered by such innovative future design aspects.
What is the most exciting development or trend in your area of tyre research or testing?
Tyre particulate emissions are becoming a hot research topic, as they are likely to become the dominant source of particulate matter emissions from electric vehicles. Studying tyre emissions is a challenge because the role of the road surface is not understood, making comparisons between current tests impossible: tyre A might produce more emissions than tyre B on one surface, but tyre B may produce more emissions than tyre A on another surface. Developing physics-based tyre emissions models from the current forefront of knowledge will help researchers to develop methods that can shed light on the physical mechanisms that create particulate emissions from tyres.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in tyre modelling and simulation?
Simulating the detail of the contact between the rubber tread and the road surface. This is the part where the tyre does its job (generates friction), and yet this is the part that no-one has effective models for.
How do you see tyre modelling evolving over the next 10 years?
Data-driven modelling has permeated all aspects of engineering, including tyres, so I see that continuing and evolving to exploit artificial intelligence algorithms. I suspect, however, that data-driven methods will need to be supplemented with new physics-based models for the contact between rubber and road surface as we try to unpick the detail behind friction generation.
How does sustainability influence your work or research in tyre testing and modelling?
The potential environmental impact of tyres in use, represented by their emissions, is a core influence on my current research to try to model the mechanisms that produce these emissions. Beyond this, I believe that all tyre modelling is key to unlocking sustainable tyre and vehicle development, as it can minimise the number of prototype products required (and hence the resources used).
How important is collaboration between academia and industry in advancing tyre technology?
Academia can provide the knowledge and tools needed to address challenges beyond industrial horizons: exploiting this effectively can give future products and services a competitive edge. Industrial questions can provide academia with opportunities for academic research to achieve broad societal impact. Collaboration between academia and industry is therefore essential to realise these mutual benefits.