Model-validation laboratory [with RUC, IFSTTAR, Continental]

Several factors influence the rolling resistance. The literature points on three main factors: the road (surface texture, bearing capacity, viscoelastic properties) the surroundings (temperature, water, dust), and some from the car (tire type, inflation pressure, load, speed). Due to the many uncontrolled factors, in-situ measurements of rolling resistance are not well suited for model validation.
To adresse this challenge the ROSE project establishes a scaled-down laboratory for validation of rolling resistance and skid resistance models. This will be the world’s first of its kind.

WP1 aims at constructing a reliable model-validation tool by building a scaled-down setup that makes it possible to perform measurements in an ordinary laboratory with a small test tire.
Opposite to present-day laboratory setups for measuring rolling resistance the setup constructed in WP1 will use a rotating drum with a surface textures instead of an smooth surface. The surface is 3D-printed from a mathematical geometrical surface description, based either on data from road measurements or specified statistically and generated by a Monte Carlo algorithm.
Several of the difficulties of full-scale laboratories are eliminated with this approach. This includes easier temperature control, more straightforward change of surface texture, and possible isolating and control of the different factors contributing to rolling resistance and to skid resistance.