High cycle testing at high speed under bending for fretting and adhesion fatigue testing of OTR reinforcement cords
03 Mar 2026
Casablanca
Reinforcement – developments in performance, sustainability, materials and manufacturing
Higher-strength and stiffness OTR reinforcement uses fine, highest-grade filaments of PCR/TBR. But the more complex constructions are sensitive to analog fretting and adhesion fatigue issues. Despite being bigger, the tires have lower inflation pressure; contact with the irregular terrain induces similar dynamic fretting and adhesion fatigue issues in the belt region. Fast time-to-market 10+Mcycle HCF fatigue testing is achieved with integrated sample cooling. The 'remaining strength' UTS test after predefined degradation uses 'slipping' clamps with low 'in-clamp breaks' on rubberized cords extracted from test samples or used tires. Dual-layer steel cord only samples are 'staggered'.
- Specificity of OTR shoeshine fretting and adhesion fatigue testing versus PCR/TBR
- Relevant effect of sample cooling on the maximum test speed
- Staggered dual-layer sample concept
- Design rules for innovative CBS 'slipping' clamping system
