The new technology, Comprehensive Road Surroundings Simulation (CROSS), promised to "raise efficiency in developing optimal tread patterns", Bridgestone said. It could simulate tyre behaviour on off-road and unpaved roads in sunny, rainy and snowy conditions.
"CROSS incorporates a breakthrough in analysing terramechanics, which is the behaviour of soil under loads," the company said. "Bridgestone uses a supercomputer to predict the movement and response of soil as it is compacted under a rolling tyre. That will streamline work in optimising tread patterns on tyres for four-wheel-drive vehicles, earthmoving equipment, agricultural machinery, all-terrain vehicles, and other vehicles that operate on unpaved surfaces."
Previously, tyre manufacturers have had to rely on repeated field testing to evaluate performance of different tread patterns on off-road surfaces.
CROSS's new simulation technology reduced the amount of field testing required in tyre development, and also allowed engineers to simulate a greater range of surfaces than would be available for field testing, Bridgestone said.
Bridgestone engineers recently presented a paper on terramechanics to a US Tire Society conference, the latest addition to Bridgestone's growing portfolio of simulation tools. The company announced new hydroplaning simulation technology in 1999 for analysing water flow under tyre treads on wet surfaces. In 2001, it announced technology for simulating tyre performance on snow.
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest manufacturer of tyres and other rubber products. Tyres account for 80% of Bridgestone Group sales worldwide. The company also manufactures industrial rubber and chemical products, sporting goods, and other diversified products. It sells its tyres and other products in more than 150 countries.
