Current Research

Advanced Meta-materials for Tweel Assemblies

Principal investigators: 

Thomas R. Kurfess, Joshua Summers, John Ziegert, Laine Mears, Paul Joseph and Georges Fadel

Graduate students:

Evan Lowe, Ashwin Michaelraj, Prabhu Sankar and Amir Guesmi

Sponsors:

UD Department of Commerce and Michelin

Brief abstract: 

The objective of this research is to provide research and development support to Michelin in exploring and developing innovative solutions to reduce rolling resistance in Tweel assemblies for passenger and heavy truck vehicles.

Three competency areas are being pursued. The first area is headed by Drs. Kurfess and Mears and focuses on the manufacturing, metrology and reliability of producing commercial Tweel assemblies.  The second area is directed by Dr. Joseph where computational models of Tweel mechanics that capture and simulate performance in driving scenarios, specifically targeting fatigue and wear considerations, will be developed. The third area, directed by Drs. Fadel, Summers and Ziegert, will explore new meta-material concepts for shear band subsystems to achieve high rolling resistance improvement.

These meta-materials may include advanced composites and metallics where the structure achieves macroscopic properties beyond the material properties themselves.

Impact: 

Reduced rolling resistance in tires for passenger cars and trucks can help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Project schedule:

January 2008 to December 2010