Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire has a crown region and a pair of sidewall regions, including a first sidewall region and a second sidewall region. The non-pneumatic tire includes a pair of beads, including a first bead and a second bead, and a toroidal element. The toroidal element includes an inner region, an outer region, and a central region. At least a portion of the central region is more elastic than the inner and outer regions. The toroidal element includes a crown portion extending across the crown region of the non-pneumatic tire, a first sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the first sidewall region of the non-pneumatic tire, and a second sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the second sidewall region of the non-pneumatic tire.

Abstract: A tire includes at least one body defining a plurality of body ply layers, and a toroidal element located between the body ply layers. The toroidal element includes inner and outer regions formed by the body ply layers, and a central region formed by an inner rubber component located between the body ply layers. At least a portion of the central region is more elastic than the inner and outer regions. The toroidal element includes a first sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the first sidewall region of the tire, and a second sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the second sidewall region of the tire. The toroidal element is pre-stressed such that the first sidewall portion of the toroidal element exerts a first axially outward force, and such that the second sidewall portion of the toroidal element exerts a second axially outward force.

Abstract: A tire includes a tread formed in a crown region of the tire and sidewall regions extending from the crown region to bead areas. The tire further includes a toroidal element extending across a crown region of the tire, and further extending along at least a portion of each sidewall region of the tire. The toroidal element has a central region located between inner and outer regions. The central region is more elastic than the inner and outer regions.

Abstract: A tire includes a wheel portion having an axis of rotation and an annular outer surface. The tire further includes a webbing extending from an annular inner surface of the wheel portion towards the axis of rotation. A stiffness of the webbing varies along the axial direction.

Abstract: A tire includes a wheel portion having an axis of rotation and an annular outer surface. The tire further includes a webbing extending from an annular inner surface of the wheel portion towards the axis of rotation. A stiffness of the webbing varies along the axial direction.

Abstract: An airless tire has a wheel portion and a webbing extending from the wheel portion towards an axis of rotation of the airless tire. The diameter of an annular outer surface of the wheel portion varies along an axial direction of the airless tire.

Abstract: An airless tire has a wheel portion and a webbing extending from the wheel portion towards an axis of rotation of the airless tire. The diameter of an annular outer surface of the wheel portion varies along an axial direction of the airless tire.

Abstract: A tire includes at least one body defining a plurality of body ply layers, and a toroidal element located between the body ply layers. The toroidal element includes inner and outer regions formed by the body ply layers, and a central region formed by an inner rubber component located between the body ply layers. At least a portion of the central region is more elastic than the inner and outer regions. The toroidal element includes a first sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the first sidewall region of the tire, and a second sidewall portion extending along at least a portion of the second sidewall region of the tire. The toroidal element is pre-stressed such that the first sidewall portion of the toroidal element exerts a first axially outward force, and such that the second sidewall portion of the toroidal element exerts a second axially outward force.

Abstract: A tire includes a tread formed in a crown region of the tire and sidewall regions extending from the crown region to bead areas. The tire further includes a toroidal element extending across a crown region of the tire, and further extending along at least a portion of each sidewall region of the tire. The toroidal element has a central region located between inner and outer regions. The central region is more elastic than the inner and outer regions.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a compression molded green rubber component, and methods for manufacturing the same, are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing workflow of multiple dependent processes includes multiple dependent processes. A first process is configured to receive at least a first value and output at least a second value. A second process is configured to receive at least one of the first value and the second value and output at least a third value. The system further includes at least one network device capable of executing at least one process from the multiple dependent processes. A workflow management logic is operably connected to the at least one network device and includes a graphical user interface configured to graphically indicate status of at least one of the multiple dependent processes. A data store is operably connected to the workflow management logic and configured to store at least one of the first value, the second value and the third value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the shape of a contact region of a finite element model deformed against a contact surface. The contact surface may be a rigid body or another finite element model. The shape of a contact region is dictated by the node/element distribution in response to a simulated load. This procedure uses curve fitting to predict the boundary of a contact region for a specified load condition based upon an analysis of contact region shapes generated by finite element analysis for each load within a range of simulated loads. In this manner, the discrete nature of the contact region boundary associated with finite element analysis results at a single load is overcome using information derived from previous load simulations. The approach improves the accuracy and resolution of simulated contact shape boundaries without a corresponding increase in processing resources.