Modeling to simulate static and dynamic tire-pavement contact: an emphasis on three-dimensional pavement surface texture

Tire-pavement contact behavior is closely associated with pavement skid resistance and vehicle safety. However, most existing studies on tire-road contact have overlooked the coupled interaction between tire rubber materials and asphalt pavement texture, particularly the influence of real pavement surface texture characteristics. Therefore, this study employed finite element analysis to investigate the grounding and skid resistance performance of tires under different static and dynamic conditions. A finite element tire-pavement contact model incorporating real pavement surface textures was first established. The contact stress and contact depth of the model were then validated using pressure-sensitive films and carbon papers. Based on the validated model, the tire-pavement contact characteristics and skid resistance performance under different static and dynamic conditions were analyzed. The results show that uneven pavement surface textures lead to non-uniform distributions of contact stress and contact imprints, with more pronounced stress concentration and asymmetric stress distribution observed on surfaces with larger irregularities. In addition, as velocity increases, both the contact area and the average normal contact stress between the tire and pavement gradually decrease. Under ABS braking conditions, pavement surfaces with larger irregularities show more noticeable improvements in skid resistance. This study clarifies tire-pavement contact characteristics under various operating conditions and provides theoretical support for asphalt mixture selection, pavement surface design, and the improvement of vehicle safety.