FEA Software Assisting in Apollo’s Growth

According to a press statement issued on December 5 by international 3D and Product Lifecycle Management solutions provider Dassault Systemes, Apollo Tyres is using the company’s Simulia brand Abaqus Unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software to evaluate and improve its product performance in order to assist in the tyremaker’s growth as a preferred partner for global automotive OEMs.

As Dassault Systemes points out, the development of a new tyre product requires the evaluation of a complex combination of rubber, steel, and other layered materials. For items such as large, off-road radial tyres, testing even a few physical prototypes is expensive and time-consuming. To circumvent this issue, Apollo Tyres is utilising Abaqus Unified FEA software in the initial stages of all new-product development to evaluate alternative concepts, guide design decisions, and refine product performance.

“Abaqus software helps us achieve design and performance goals efficiently,” says P.K. Mohamed, chief of technology and R&D at Apollo Tyres. “Realistic simulation reduces design cycle time and cost, while enabling our engineers to evaluate design properties and optimise product performance. We selected Abaqus because it is a world-class design analysis product with specific functionalities for tyre analysis.”

Apollo Tyres has implemented Abaqus Unified FEA as an integral tool in the development of all categories of their radial tyres. The software provides a unified simulation environment to accelerate the evaluation of tyre durability, tread wear, vehicle handling, noise and vibration, and rolling resistance. Optimising tyre performance for these attributes plays a crucial role in improving vehicle safety, reliability, passenger comfort, and fuel economy.

“In the tyre manufacturing industry, Abaqus is the preferred simulation software due to its robust analysis capabilities for simulating real-world performance of complex materials undergoing large deformation and contact,” stated Ken Short, vice president, Simulia strategy and marketing. “We continually strive to enhance our technology which helps our customers, such as Apollo Tyres, meet product performance specifications quickly and cost-effectively.”