Finite Element Analysis of Rubber Tires Energy Dissipating Additive under Explosion Impact

Abstract

The rising incidence of explosive threats, such as landmines and IEDs, has resulted in difficulties in maintaining safety and reliability of military vehicles. Among various structural parts, the tyre is the weakest link due to its direct contact with the surface and transfer of shock wave energy into the whole vehicle system. This paper is devoted to the detailed finite element analysis of rubber tyres filled with additive materials with an ability to absorb energy. Material modelling approaches that take into account hyper elasticity and viscoelasticity of rubber by implementing Mooney-Rivlin and Yeoh models are used. The numerical computations were carried out in LS-DYNA software by introducing explosion load using CONWEP and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian algorithms. Furthermore, the paper analyses the effect of additives like carbon black, carbon nanotubes and natural fibres on energy dissipation and peak stresses generated during explosions. The study shows that introduction of nano-scale additive materials increases energy.

Introduction

This study investigates improving the blast resistance and durability of military vehicle tires exposed to mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), particularly in insurgency-prone regions. Tire failure is a critical issue because tires are often the first point of contact for blast waves, transmitting shock into the vehicle and reducing mobility, as observed in attacks such as the Gadchiroli (2019) and Sukma (2018) incidents.

To address this problem, the research proposes enhancing tire performance by incorporating a carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement layer into the rubber structure. The CNT layer is intended to improve energy dissipation, reduce shock transmission, slow crack propagation, and increase recovery after deformation. Since live blast testing is costly, dangerous, and difficult, the study uses finite element analysis (FEA) in LS-DYNA to simulate blast effects and evaluate tire performance.

The methodology follows a sequential finite element modelling approach. A standard pneumatic tire model from the LS-DYNA library was selected as the baseline, containing components such as tread, sidewalls, carcass plies, belts, and beads. Rubber regions were modeled using hyperelastic Mooney–Rivlin material models (MAT_027) combined with viscoelastic damping behavior (MAT_006), while steel reinforcements used Johnson–Cook plasticity (MAT_015). Composite reinforcement layers were modeled using MAT_054 and MAT_058, and the CNT reinforcement layer was modeled as an orthotropic composite using MAT_022 to capture its anisotropic strength and progressive damage behavior.

Different contact definitions were used to realistically simulate interactions between tire components, the rim, and the ground. The CNT layer was assumed to be perfectly bonded within the rubber matrix.

Blast loading was simulated using two LS-DYNA approaches. The first was the CONWEP method, which applies empirical blast pressure-time histories based on TNT equivalence, charge mass, and stand-off distance. A 0.5 kg TNT charge at a 0.4 m stand-off distance was applied to the tire. This method was chosen for preliminary analysis due to its simplicity and computational efficiency. The second approach used the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation, which explicitly modeled the explosive, air domain, and their interaction with the tire using fluid-structure interaction techniques. TNT was modeled with MAT_HIGH_EXPLOSIVE_BURN and the JWL equation of state, while air was modeled as a compressible gas using MAT_NULL.

Conclusion

The current research employs numerical analysis for examining the effect of blast load on the behavior of tyres using LS-DYNA with CONWEP and ALE formulations for a TNT charge weighing 0.5 kg and placed at 0.35 m standoff distance. The response of the pressure-time history indicates a typical trend in relation to the blast load; however, the CONWEP formulation leads to localized loading with maximum deformation whereas the ALE formulation considers the fluid-structure interaction by distributing the pressure effect. The conventional tyre fails due to extreme localized deformation caused by high strain rate. On the other hand, the CNT-based tyre provides an improved result through the reduction of the deformation and stress concentration, resulting in delayed failure because of energy dissipation. It must be noted that complete blast resistance is not possible since the stress values exceed those of the material\'s strength properties.

References

The current research employs numerical analysis for examining the effect of blast load on the behavior of tyres using LS-DYNA with CONWEP and ALE formulations for a TNT charge weighing 0.5 kg and placed at 0.35 m standoff distance. The response of the pressure-time history indicates a typical trend in relation to the blast load; however, the CONWEP formulation leads to localized loading with maximum deformation whereas the ALE formulation considers the fluid-structure interaction by distributing the pressure effect. The conventional tyre fails due to extreme localized deformation caused by high strain rate. On the other hand, the CNT-based tyre provides an improved result through the reduction of the deformation and stress concentration, resulting in delayed failure because of energy dissipation. It must be noted that complete blast resistance is not possible since the stress values exceed those of the material\'s strength properties.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Rohit Gaikwad, Dr. I. A. Khan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.