Mechanical engineering professor receives CenTiRe funding for innovative tire NVH research
Dr. Michelle S. Hoo Fatt
Dr. Michelle S. Hoo Fatt, professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Akron, has received $140,000 in research funding from the Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) for a new project focused on improving tire noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) modeling. Her two-year project, titled “Modal Testing of Cords for NVH Applications,” was selected under CenTiRe’s Testing Thrust Area.
The research addresses a key challenge in the tire industry — how to accurately measure the dynamic mechanical properties of tire cords, which are critical to understanding how tires respond to vibration. Traditional testing tools, like dynamic mechanical analyzers, are designed for bulk rubber materials, not for the unique structure and stiffness of fiber cords used in tires.
Building on findings from a previous CenTiRe project, Hoo Fatt aims to design a specialized test setup capable of evaluating tire cords under more realistic conditions. Her custom testing system will:
- Handle longer cord specimens to capture realistic fiber-on-fiber interaction
- Support higher loads needed for testing strong materials like aramid fiber blends
- Enable testing at high frequencies (1 kHz and above) without relying on time-consuming techniques like time-temperature superposition
This new approach will allow for faster, more accurate testing and generate high-quality data for tire manufacturers to use in NVH simulations. The results are expected to lead to quieter, smoother tires and more efficient product development.
CenTiRe’s support of this work highlights the power of academic-industry collaboration to solve real-world engineering problems and advance the future of tire technology.
About CenTiRe
The Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) is a university-industry consortium dedicated to advancing pre-competitive research in tire materials, physics, testing, manufacturing and sustainability. Supported by global tire manufacturers, material suppliers, vehicle makers and test equipment providers, CenTiRe operates through two leading research institutions: Virginia Tech and The University of Akron. Virginia Tech specializes in tire and vehicle mechanics, dynamics and road simulation, while The University of Akron is internationally recognized for its expertise in polymer science and engineering. CenTiRe projects are guided by industry members and carried out by university faculty and graduate students, ensuring research outcomes are relevant and transferable to member organizations.
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Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.