Issue 2 2018 - NASA announces new super-elastic tire technology

NASA Releases New Super-Resilient Tire Technology
NASA recently announced that NASA's Glenn Research Center has partnered with The Good year Tire Rubber Company to develop a new super-elastic tire
.

Hyperelastic tire technology uses shape-memory alloys (mainly nitinol and its derivatives) as the load-bearing component of the wheel to remember its initial shape
.
These shape memory alloys can experience significant reversible strain (up to 10%), while commonly used elastoplastic materials (such as spring steel, composite materials, etc.
) can only withstand about 0.
3%~0.
5% strain before yielding
.
In addition, the use of shape memory alloys in the shape of radial reinforcements provides more load-bearing capacity and improved design flexibility
.

This technology reduces the weight of the internal frame of the wheel assembly, increases the bearing capacity of the tire, uses shape memory alloys as a radial reinforcement design, so that the tire can withstand excessive deformation without causing damage, eliminates the danger of puncture, improves the safety of the car, and makes the vehicle run very smoothly
.
The technology can be applied to vehicles such as off-road vehicles, military vehicles, construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, as well as tires
for aircraft, rockets and heavy equipment.