Simulation Study on Rainy Driving Safety Considering Tire-Road Adhesion

Abstract Hydroplaning induced by water films on wet roads is a major cause of braking failure and loss of vehicle directional stability. To systematically investigate driving safety under rainy conditions, a multi-scale coupled simulation framework was developed. First, a 3D hydroplaning model of a 195/65/R15 radial tire was constructed in ABAQUS using a coupled Euler–Lagrange approach to obtain tire longitudinal force-slip ratio characteristics under different wet conditions. These characteristics were then integrated into a vehicle dynamics model in CarSim, including the vehicle body, suspension, and steering system. Emergency braking scenarios on straight and curved roads were simulated to quantify the effects of water film thickness, initial speed, and curvature radius on braking distance and maximum lateral deviation. Results indicate that braking distance under the water-covered condition increased by 45.8% at 100 km/h, and lateral deviation in curves may pose a significant side-collision risk. Based on the simulations, simulation-derived reference speeds for different curve radii and water-film thicknesses were proposed. The proposed ‘tire-vehicle’ coupled simulation framework provides theoretical support for rainy-day driving safety warnings and road design.