0968912 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Saied Taheri 0968940 University of Akron; Celal Batur
The Center for Tire Research and Test Center (Tire TeC) will focus on building a base of research, engineering education, and technology transfer that will impact industrial practice and productivity through advanced materials and intelligent tire technologies. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) and the University of Akron (UA) are collaborating to establish the proposed center, with VT as the lead institution.
The primary goals of this planning project are to initiate formal partnership with various industry partners and national laboratories that have an interest in tire technologies, and to discuss fundamental issues and topics for research. The proposed IUCRC will generate new scientific knowledge; develop novel smart-material-based tires, novel nanotechnology-based tire compounds, and intelligent tire technology; and advance their associated dynamic models and constitutive relationships by developing virtual and hardware-in-the-loop-based simulation environments. The various envisioned research thrusts will provide solutions to improve the industry's yield and contribute to its competitiveness.
If successful, the proposed Center has the potential to improve sustainability and profitability of US tire manufacturing industry by developing new technologies that will reduce energy consumption, pollution and increase driving safety. The Center will greatly enhance the infrastructure and lead to other opportunities to assist the tire manufacturers. The proposed center plans to provide students and faculty with a platform for conducting industry-relevant research, establish an effective mechanism for collaboration, and will help promote, catalyze, and accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies. Finally, Tire TeC will recruit participants from groups traditionally under-represented in Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and other scientific disciplines and will promote this center through its ongoing working relationships with colleagues at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia Campus and the Middle Eastern and Northern Africa (VT-MENA) campuses.
NSF has extended the deadline of proposal submission for this tire reserach center until September, 2011. Following the workshop, details given below, we have a total of seven companies committed to this center. We are working on adding three more companies. Tire Research and Test Center Dr. Saied Taheri, Virginia Tech; Dr. Celal Batur, The University of Akron Planning Workshop at Quaker Square Inn Agenda Thursday September 23 7:00-8:00 am Breakfast 8:00-8:05 am Introduction and Welcome – Dr. Saied Taheri 8:05-8:25 am Research Capabilities at Virginia Tech- Dr. Roderick Hall, Associate Vice President for Research 8:25-8:45 am Research Capabilities at the University of Akron- Dr. Wayne H. Watkins, Associate Vice President for Research 8:45-9:30 am Presentation by NSF PD- Dr. Glenn Larsen 9:30-9:45 am Presentation by Center Evaluator- Dr. Dee Hoffman 9:45-10:00 am Coffee Break 10:00-12:00 pm Project Presentations by Virginia Tech- Dr. Saied Taheri -The Application of Smart Materials for Improving Tire Performance and Processing, Dr. Mehdi Ahmadian -Dispersion and Exfoliating of Nano-Particles into Polymer Matrices, Dr. Don Baird -Slip and Contact Patch Analysis for Tires on Deformable Soil, Dr. Corina Sandu -Road profiling & friction estimation, Dr. John Ferris -Real-time Full-field Strain Monitoring and Material Characterization for Tire Testing, Dr. Tomo Furukawa -Efficient FE tire models, Dr. Bob West 12:00-1:00 pm Lunch 1:00-3:00 pm Project Presentations by the University of Akron- Dr. Celal Batur -Constitutive Modeling of Rubber, Dr. Michelle Hoo-Fatt -Experimental and Numerical Hydroplaning and Experiments for Rapid Evaluation of Tire Design, Dr. Jack Braun -New Technologies for High Performance Tire Manufacture: Use of Laser Methods, Nanofibers and Composite Springs, Dr. Erol Sancaktar -Ultrasonic Extrusion Technology for Tire Rubber Devulcanization, Compounding of Rubber Nanocomposites and In-situ Copolymerization of Rubber Blends, Dr. Avraam I. Isayev -Rolling Resistance of Nanofabrics and Fibers , Dr. Josh Wong -Modeling Strategies for Efficient Tire solutions and Multiscale Analysis to Predict Damage and Fatigue Failure of Tire Steel Cord, Dr. Xiaosheng Gao -Hysteresis Behavior of Tire composites as a Function of Modulus and Geometry of Reinforcement, Dr. T.S. Srivatsan and Dr. A. Prakash -Green Tire Technology, Dr. Judit E. Puskas -Tire Handling and Traction Test on Icy Surface, Dr. Fred Choy - Models for cross-linked rubbers : attractive filler behavior, mechanics and strength, Dr. Arkady Leonov 3:00-3:15 pm Coffee Break 3:15-4:30 pm Industry moderated workshop- Dr. Rod Bailey, Michelin North America 4:30-5:30 pm Poster session 5:30-7:00 pm Social/Dinner-Quaker Inn Ballroom Friday, September 24 7:00 – 8:00 am Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00 am Feedback from Industry moderated session - Dr. Rod Bailey, Michelin North America 9:00 – 10:00 am LIFE form discussion- Dr. Dee Hoffman 10:00 – 10:15 am Coffee Break 10:15 – 11:30 am NSF Closed Door Session- Dr. Glenn Larsen 11:30 – 12:00 Closing remarks- Dr. Saied Taheri and Dr. Celal Batur 12:00 Adjourn
