Lab lessons learned - Part 3: Tire modal impact testing and forced-response analysis

As a final project, groups of students enrolled in a class called ME597A Practical Experiences in Vibration at Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering, studied the differences in tire response due to excitations across the tread width using modal impact testing and transmissibility analysis. Students learned that a steel patch installed on the tire tread could be used to increase the frequency bandwidth of the modal impact excitation by a factor of nearly four. The patch also significantly improved the coherence of the FRF measurements. They also determined that the forced-response characteristics of the center, inner, and outer tread lines were similar for the tire tested. Overall, students learned about many aspects of modal impact testing.