Retrofitting of a Rotary Drum DIN Abrasion tester to study tyre to roadmicroplastic generation

Sammanfattning

In collaboration with Scania, Volvo, and Nynas AB, Karolinska Institutet (KI), KTH Royal Institute of Technology is participating in a research project funded by the Swedish Energy Agency. The overall aim of the project is to investigate the mechanisms and consequences of tyre wear. As part of this research, tests will be conducted using various rubber materials against different types of road surfaces. To perform such tests, KTH’s Department of Machine Design has acquired a Rotary Drum DIN Abrasion Tester. During a test, a rubber specimen is pressed and moved across a rotating drum covered with sandpaper. This bachelor’s thesis is focused on exploring potential modifications to the machine in order to create a more realistic test environment and to facilitate the testing procedure. The methods applied in this project include literature review, function-means trees, 3D modeling, and a study visit to Nynas AB. The results indicate several possible improvements, such as replacing the sandpaper-covered drum with an asphalt drum, and designing an adapter to adjust the rubber specimen to better simulate a rolling tyre. Additionally, a new test enclosure has been designed to improve machine accessibility and ease of use. A recommendation for a new infrared thermometer has also been proposed to enable temperature measurements during testing. This work does not present finalized solutions, but rather aims to provide a basis for design concepts and product proposals that may contribute to the development of more realistic testing methods, which in turn can support and facilitate the overall research within the project.