Tweel

Tweel
Physics Assignment









Submitted By
Muhammed Adil Bin Saad
10 c
Name of the Device
The device on which my assignment is based is basically a tire called Tweel. Tweel is an airless tire which can never burst, never gets flat and never gets worn out like our normal air tires, whether they are tubeless or with tube in them.













Brief history
Tweel was basically found by the Well-known Tire Company, named Michelin. It is fairly estimated that Tweel will replace the traditional tires in about 10 to 15 years. The tire uses no air, and therefore cannot burst or become flat. Instead, the Tweel's hub connects to flexible polyurethane spokes which are used to support an outer rim and assume the shock-absorbing role of a traditional tire's pneumatic properties. The Tweel consists of a cable-reinforced band of conventional tire rubber with molded tread, a shear band just below the tread that creates a compliant contact patch, and a series of energy-absorbing polyurethane spokes. The rectangular spokes can be designed to have a range of stiffnesses, so engineers can control how the Tweel handles loads. The inner hub contains a matrix of deformable plastic structures that flex under load and return to their original shape. By varying the thickness and size of the spokes, Michelin can generate a wide array of ride and handling qualities. The tread can be as specialized as any of today's tires and is replaceable when worn. It is also known as the "Re-invented wheel of 21st Century ". Like every device existing on the face of the earth, the tweel also has its benefits as well as some draw-backs.




Potential benefits of the Tweel include the obvious safety and convenience of never having flat tires. Eventually, it may be able to outperform a pneumatic tire since it can be designed to have high lateral strength for better handling without a loss in comfort since the design of the spokes allows the vertical and lateral stiffness to be tuned independently. The tread patterns may incorporate holes in the design thus eliminating or significantly reducing aquaplaning. Michelin expects the tread to last two to three times as long as a conventional tire. Because only the tread around the circumference would be disposed of when worn as opposed to a whole tire, the environmental impact should be less. The Tweel does have several flaws, however, the worst being vibration. Above 50 mph (80 km/h), the Tweel vibrates considerably, which in itself is a problem that also gives raise to undesired noise and heat. A fast-moving Tweel is unpleasantly loud and produces 5 percent more friction compared to a radial tire.
Applications


Given the high speed problems with the Tweel, the first commercial applications will be in lower-speed, lower-weight vehicles such as wheelchairs, scooters, and other such devices. The iBOT mobility device and Segway's Concept Centaur were both introduced with Tweels. Michelin also has additional projects for Tweel on small construction equipment, such as skid steer loaders, for which it seems well-suited.
The first large-scale applications may be in the military where a flat-proof tire would be advantageous. Military testing has indicated that the Tweel deflects mine blasts away from the vehicle better than standard tires and that the Tweel remains mobile even with some of the spokes damaged or missing.


NASA has contracted Michelin to develop a wheel for the next generation Lunar Rover based on the Tweel. This has resulted in the Lunar Rover Initiative AB Scarab wheels.

DEVELOPMENT WITH TIME









This tire called tweel was officially launched on February 15, 2009. The problem with this wheel is that it vibrates when it crosses 80 km/h. So people found it applicable on other machines. You won't see the Tweel on your sandmobile any time soon because it has noise, vibration, heat and wear problems at highway speeds, but its unique construction enables it to be specifically engineered with ideal characteristics for highly specialized low speed applications. The ultimate badge of credibility was bestowed on the design when it rolled down Pennsylvania Avenue on NASA's Small Pressurized Lunar Rover prototype during the Obama presidential inauguration. Another fact is that it cannot be shot. Despite the truth that Michelin has been supplying space shuttle tires for more than two decades, years, NASA's choice of Tweel-based technology in the development of new wheels for its lunar vehicles validates the claims Michelin has been making about the ability to engineer "designer properties" into its Tweel for specific applications.




It will approximately take a time of about 15 years to replace the traditional tires with air.
The Tweel automotive application, as demonstrated on the Audi A4 in the accompanying image library, is still definitely a concept for the future, but the company's decision to enter the market with lower-speed, lower-weight Tweel applications such as iBOT, Centaur and skidsteer appears to have been the correct strategy. With the NASA relationship now validating the technology, the chances are that the Tweel will become a very important invention.

MY OWN IDEAS ABOUT THIS INVENTION
In my opinion the tweel is a remarkable invention. Even though it does not behave well on high speeds, the moment it crosses 80km/h it starts vibrating. Some noise and vibration is the problem factor at high speeds. Otherwise it is ideal for slow moving vehicles.
The Company Michelin made an iBot which runs on Tweels. iBot is actually a type of Wheel Chair for old people. Secondly it can be used in Military vehicles. Military vehicles usually move slow on rocky roads. Tweel is a deformable tire. Still it can be replaced if it gets worn out.
Thirdly it can be used in heavy machinery. The one below runs on tweels.





MY VIEWS ABOUT THIS ASSIGNMENT
After completing this assignment, I realized that this invention, the tweel is a significant and an important invention. Many people suffer fatal accidents while driving on highways at high speeds. This is because if any tire bursts out, the car can get out of control and this causes accidents. The tweel is a deformable tire and has no chance of bursting out. When using tweels, the driver will automatically reduce his speed as to avoid vibration and a bit of sound.
It is estimated that in a period of 15 years, the tweel will replace the traditional tire and if this happens, we all will be in a significant advantage.

--------------------------------------------------------------