Tire (Friction Parameterized)

Tire with friction parameterized in terms of static and kinetic coefficients

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Libraries:
Simscape / Driveline / Tires & Vehicles

Description

The Tire (Friction Parameterized) block represents a tire with friction parameterized in terms of static and kinetic coefficients. The static friction coefficient, μ_s, determines the applied torque at which the tire loses traction and begins to slip. The kinetic friction coefficient, μ_k, determines the amount of torque that the tire transmits to the pavement once it begins to slip. The tire regains traction when its relative velocity over the pavement falls below the specified traction velocity tolerance.

To increase the fidelity of the tire model, specify properties such as tire compliance, inertia, and rolling resistance. Note that these properties increase the complexity of the tire model and can slow down simulation. Consider ignoring tire compliance and inertia if simulating the model in real time or when preparing the model for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation.

Wheel Slip

When you set Slip output type to Relative, the block outputs the relative slip velocity as a unitless physical signal at port S, such that

$$S=-\frac{V_x-r_w\Omega -r_w\dot{u}}{\left|V_x\right|},$$

where:

• V_x is the wheel hub longitudinal velocity at port H.

• r_w is the rolling radius.

• Ω is the wheel axle angular velocity at port A.

When you set Slip output type to Absolute, port S outputs the absolute contact point slip velocity in a rotational form such that

$$S=-\frac{V_x-r_w\Omega -r_w\dot{u}}{r_w},$$

where u is the time-rate of change in longitudinal deformation and u/r_w is equivalent to the rotational velocity of the spring and damper in the logged simulation results.

When you set Slip output type to Absolute, the block uses the friction model of the Fundamental Friction Clutch block. The figure demonstrates how the block implements slip:

When you set Compliance to No compliance - Suitable for HIL simulation, the block sets $$\dot{u}=0$$.

Examples

Vehicle with Four-Wheel Drive

A four-wheel drive vehicle starting from rest and ascending a 15 degree incline. Initially the vehicle rolls backwards until the engine develops sufficient torque to counter the slope. The tire compliance dynamics can be seen as the vehicle starts to accelerate. The model variant chosen for all of the tires can be set to the Simple, Friction Parameterized, or Magic Formula tire model using the hyperlinks in the model.

• Open Model

Ports

Input

N — Normal force, N

physical signal

Physical signal input port associated with the normal force acting on the tire, in N. The normal force is positive if it acts downward on the tire, pressing it against the pavement.

M — Friction coefficients, unitless

physical signal | two-element vector

Physical signal input port associated with the unitless static and kinetic friction coefficients, μ_s and μ_k, respectively. Provide the friction coefficients as a two-element vector, specified in the order [μ_s, μ_k].

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Friction model to Physical signal friction coefficients.

Output

S — Slip, unitless or in rad/s

physical signal

Physical signal output port associated with the slip between the tire and road, unitless or in rad/s. When you set Output type to:

• Relative, the port outputs unitless, relative slip.

• Absolute, the port outputs absolute slip in rad/s.

Conserving

A — Axle

mechanical rotational

Mechanical rotational conserving port associated with the axle.

H — Hub

mechanical rotational

Mechanical rotational port associated with the wheel hub.

Parameters

Main

Rolling radius — Unloaded tire-wheel radius

0.3 m (default) | positive scalar

Distance between the pavement and the center of the tire.

Slip output type — Relative or absolute switch option

Relative (default) | Absolute

Whether the block uses a relative or absolute slip friction parameterization.

Friction model — Friction model

Fixed kinetic friction coefficient (default) | Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient | Physical signal friction coefficients

Friction model the block uses during the simulation. When you select:

• Fixed kinetic friction coefficient, the block uses the constant static and kinetic friction coefficients that you specify.

• Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient, you can specify friction using a table lookup. The block treats the static coefficient as a constant and treats the kinetic coefficient as a constant or function of tire slip. Use this setting to simulate tire dynamics under constant pavement conditions.

• Physical signal friction coefficients, the block enables port M for you to provide [μ_s, μ_k]. Use this setting to simulate tire dynamics under variable pavement conditions.

Static friction coefficient — Static friction coefficient

0.90 (default) | positive scalar

Ratio of the allowable longitudinal force to the normal force allowed before the tire begins to slip, μ_s. The value of this parameter must be greater than either the Kinetic friction coefficient parameter or the largest value in the Kinetic friction coefficient vector parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Fixed kinetic friction coefficient or Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient.

Kinetic friction coefficient — Kinetic friction coefficient

0.70 (default) | positive scalar

Ratio of the longitudinal force transferred to the road to the normal force allowed during tire slip, μ_k. The ratio must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Fixed kinetic friction coefficient.

Tire slip vector — Tire slip

[0, .02, .06, .15, .6, 1] rad/s (default) | vector

Reference tire slip. The elements in this vector correspond one-to-one with the Kinetic friction coefficient vector parameter. If the Tire slip vector parameter contains only nonnegative values, the block assumes the slip-versus-friction function to be symmetric about the slip axis.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient.

Kinetic friction coefficient vector — Kinetic friction coefficient

[.89, .88, .8, .75, .7, .7] (default) | vector

Kinetic friction coefficient for a given tire slip. The elements in this vector correspond one-to-one with the Tire slip vector parameter. The vectors must be the same size.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient.

Interpolation method — Interpolation method

Linear (default) | Smooth

Interpolation method for the lookup table to process the tire slip-kinetic friction coefficient characteristic. To prioritize performance, select Linear. To produce a continuous curve with continuous first-order derivatives, select Smooth.

For more information on interpolation algorithms, see the PS Lookup Table (1D) block reference page.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient.

Extrapolation method — Extrapolation method

Linear (default) | Nearest | Error

Extrapolation method for the lookup table to process the tire slip-kinetic friction coefficient characteristic. To produce:

• Linear — Select this option to produce a curve with continuous first-order derivatives in the extrapolation region and at the boundary with the interpolation region.

• Nearest — Select this option to produce an extrapolation that does not go above the highest point in the data or below the lowest point in the data.

• Error — Select this option to avoid going into the extrapolation mode when you want your data to be within the table range. If the input signal is outside the range of the table, the simulation stops and generates an error.

For more information on extrapolation algorithms, see the PS Lookup Table (1D) block reference page.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Friction model to Table lookup kinetic friction coefficient.

Dynamics

Compliance — Dynamical compliance model

No compliance - Suitable for HIL simulation (default) | Specify stiffness and damping

Model for the dynamical compliance of the tire.

• No compliance - Suitable for HIL simulation — The block ignores dynamical compliance.

• Specify stiffness and damping — The block treats the tire as a stiff, dampened spring that deforms under load.

Longitudinal stiffness — Longitudinal stiffness

1e6 N/m (default) | positive scalar

Tire longitudinal stiffness, C_Fx.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Compliance to Specify stiffness and damping.

Longitudinal damping — Longitudinal damping

1000 N/(m/s) (default) | positive scalar

Tire longitudinal damping, b_Fx.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Compliance to Specify stiffness and damping.

Inertia — Inertia option

No inertia (default) | Specify inertia and initial velocity

Whether to simulate tire rotational inertia. When you select

• No inertia — The block ignores inertia.

• Specify inertia and initial velocity — The block treats the tire as a stiff, dampened spring that deforms under load.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Inertia to Specify inertia and initial velocity.

Tire inertia — Tire rotational inertia

1 kg*m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Rotational inertia, I_w, of the wheel-tire assembly.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Inertia to Specify inertia and initial velocity.

Initial velocity — Initial rotational velocity

0 rad/s (default) | scalar

Initial angular velocity, Ω(0), of the tire.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Inertia to Specify inertia and initial velocity.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance — Rolling resistance option

off (default) | on

Whether to simulate rolling resistance.

Resistance model — Rolling resistance option

Constant coefficient (default) | Pressure and velocity dependent

Whether to simulate the rolling resistance of the tire. When you select

• Constant coefficient — The block ignores rolling resistance.

• Pressure and velocity dependent — Include rolling resistance.

Constant coefficient — Proportionality constant

0.015 (default) | positive scalar

Coefficient that sets the proportionality between the normal force and the rolling resistance force. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Constant coefficient.

Tire pressure — Tire pressure

250e3 Pa (default) | positive scalar

Inflation pressure of the tire. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Alpha — Tire pressure equation exponent

-0.003 (default) | scalar

Exponent of the tire pressure in the model equation.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Beta — Normal force equation exponent

0.97 (default) | scalar

Exponent of the normal force model equation.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Coefficient A — Velocity-independent force component A

84e-4 (default) | positive scalar

Velocity-independent force component in the model equation. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Coefficient B — Velocity-dependent force component B

6.2e-4 s/m (default) | positive scalar

Velocity-dependent force component in the model equation. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Coefficient C — Velocity-dependent force component C

1.6e-4 s^2/m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Force component that depends on the square of the velocity term in the model equation. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance and set Resistance model to Pressure and velocity dependent.

Velocity threshold — Wheel hub velocity threshold for mathematical slip model

0.001 m/s (default) | positive scalar

Velocity at which the block applies the full rolling resistance. This parameter ensures that the force remains continuous during velocity direction changes, which increases the numerical stability of the simulation. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Rolling resistance.

Advanced

Traction velocity tolerance — Traction velocity tolerance

0.01 m/s (default) | positive scalar

Magnitude of the relative velocity between the tire and ground at which the tire regains traction. If this value is too low, the tire does not gain traction. If this value is too high, the tire velocity changes suddenly when the tire gains traction, which can result in an unstable simulation. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Engagement threshold force — Engagement threshold force

10 N (default) | positive scalar

Threshold force at which block applies the normal force to the tire. If this value is too low, the tire gains and loses traction rapidly. If this value is too high, the block produces unrealistically low static and dynamic friction forces. The parameter must be greater than zero.

Initial traction state — Initial traction state

Tire is initially slipping (default) | Tire is initially in traction

Option to have the tire in traction or slipping at the start of simulation.

More About

Real-Time and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation

For optimal simulation performance, set the Dynamics > Compliance parameter to No compliance - Suitable for HIL simulation.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2012a

R2025a: Enumeration Updates

The Rolling resistance parameter now uses a check box. This parameter used a drop down in previous releases.

R2024b: Improve compliance and inertia

The block locations of the inertias and compliance to be more accurate during acceleration. The block uses new definitions of absolute and relative slip to more closely reflect the Tire (Magic Formula) block. Models that contain the Tire (Friction Parameterized) block generate different outputs in R2024b than in previous releases.

R2022b: Select slip output type

You can now model relative tire slip, which is consistent with the Tire (Magic Formula) block. To select between relative and absolute slip, set Output type to Relative or Absolute. The output at port S is now multiplied by -1 compared to versions prior to R2024b.