Abstract

This research thesis presents the development and analysis of a novel Mechano-Pneumatic Wheel (MPW) by integrating the strengths of both pneumatic and non-pneumatic wheels. While pneumatic tires provide excellent comfort and traction, they are prone to punctures and require frequent maintenance. In contrast, non-pneumatic tires are durable and require low maintenance but often fall short in ride quality and versatility. The proposed MPW concept bridges this gap by integrating air springs arranged radially within a structural shear band. This study explores several MPW configurations, focusing on different air spring coupling methods, to optimize load sharing and road contact pressure distribution. A quasi-static model was subsequently developed to predict the wheel’s deflection and load-bearing behaviour and validated using Finite Element Analysis and MATLAB simulations. A parametric investigation was conducted to study the influences of important design variables such as air spring size, configuration, and charge pressure on vertical stiffness. Optimization techniques, including genetic algorithms were applied to identify the optimal design parameters, achieving a target vertical stiffness of 190 kN/m while minimizing fluctuations in load distribution. The research study also incorporates a composite shear band which is modeled as a curved Timoshenko beam to improve its performance. A 3 mm reduction in the wheel’s contact patch deflection was achieved with the addition of the shear band. By combining the best features of pneumatic and non-pneumatic wheel technologies, the present research introduces a versatile and innovative wheel concept with promising applications in automotive, aerospace, and off-road mobility.