In high-performance tire development, surface inspections often fail to reveal the critical sub-surface interactions that dictate performance outcomes. Smithers provides advanced Laser Shearography services, a non-destructive testing (NDT) methodology that utilizes interferometry to detect minute internal deformations.
By analyzing tires under vacuum at standard ambient pressure, we provide R&D teams with a high-fidelity view of a tire's internal architecture, identifying anomalies that traditional tactile or visual methods would miss.
The Science of Non-Destructive Internal Analysis
Shearography measures the out-of-plane strain gradient on the tire surface. When a vacuum is applied, internal air pockets or areas of compromised adhesion expand, creating a localized displacement of the tire wall. Our laser sensors capture these displacements to identify:
- Inter-ply Separations: Identifying weaknesses between the belt-to-belt or belt-to-body ply interfaces.
- Intra-compound Porosity: Detecting microscopic air bubbles or inclusions within the rubber matrix.
- Component De-bonding: Localized failure of the bead-to-casing or sidewall-to-casing adhesion.
Technical Advantages for R&D Workflows
- Validation Before & After Stress: Use Shearography to baseline a tire’s integrity before endurance testing, then re-examine post-test to analyze the onset of internal degradation, even if no external failure is visible.
- Predictive Performance Metrics: Integrate findings into the Smithers Durability Index Report(DIR) to correlate internal structural indicators with projected performance lifespans.
- Non-destructive testing: As a completely non-destructive method, the test specimen remains intact for subsequent physical testing, chemical analysis, or proving ground validation.
Shearography for Various Tire Types
Our capabilities are tailored to meet the rigorous standards of both OE development and aftermarket tires for multiple vehicle types.
- Passenger & Light Truck (PCR/LTR): Validating high-speed structural integrity and uniformity.
- Medium & Heavy Truck (TBR): Detecting belt edge separations and casing flaws in both new and retreaded tires.
- Super Single & Specialty Tires: Ensuring structural consistency in high-load applications.
Drive Performance Through Data
Our team of tire testing engineers and technicians provides you with the highest quality Shearography services, ensuring your tire inspection needs are met with precision and care. Find out more about how we can help today.
- 6PPD Alternative Development
- Accelerated Tire Aging
- Custom Product Displays
- Durability and Endurance Testing
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Tires
- Fleet Fuel Efficiency Analysis
- Force and Moment Testing
- Government Regulatory Tire Testing
- High-Speed Uniformity Testing
- Inflation Pressure Loss Rate (IPLR)
- Laboratory Tire Analysis
- OEM Design Validation
- OTR Tire Testing
- PRAT and RCF
- Retreaded Truck Tire Testing
- Rolling Resistance Testing
- Simulated On-Vehicle Accelerated Tire Testing
- Snow and Ice Traction
- Stiffness/Spring Rate Measurement
- Subjective Ride and Handling
- Tire Benchmarking
- Tire Buffing
- Tire Durability Index Report
- Tire Footprint Testing
- Tire Impact Testing
- Tire Labeling Testing
- Tire Modeling and Characterization
- Tire Proving Grounds
- Tire Quality Control Program
- Tire Shearography
- Vertical Load Testing
- Virtual Tire Lab