With 35 years of industry leadership, 34 U.S. patents, and deep expertise in advanced manufacturing, tracks, pneumatic and non-pneumatic tires, I help companies solve technical challenges — from early-stage development to complex analyses.
Dr Ronald (Bart) Thompson
PhD Mechanical Engineer | NPT / Tweel™ Co-Inventor
University Educator | Trusted Expert | Advanced Manufacturing
Engineering Excellence for Tires, Tracks, & Mobility Systems
Tire & Track System Consulting
Concept development & materials selection
FEA / CAD Structural design & optimization
Expert system parameterized CAD models
Pneumatic and Non-pneumatic tire (NPT) analysis and design
Advanced Manufacturing and materials - Steelastic-type ply construction, composite reinforcements, bladderless tire manufacturing
Tire Footprint & Contact Mechanics
Detailed footprint stress distribution, correlations to traction and wear
Tread block modeling
On-road and off-road traction
Forensic Engineering & Expert Witness Services
Tire failure analysis (tread separation, belt detachment, ruptures)
Mechanical and design defects
Accident reconstruction support
Tire Tread imprint interpretation
Litigation strategy support & courtroom testimony
High-Fidelity Modeling & Simulation
3D FEA modeling of tires and tracks
Steady-state and transient
Rubber, composite, and elastomer materials, hyper-elastic formulations
Substructuring, micro-mechanical models for high fidelity in stress “hot spots.”
Rolling resistance and temperature prediction
Impact, fatigue analyses
Material and Process Selection
Traditional and advanced tire manufacturing
Cast polyurethane (MDI, TDI, Ester, Ether) and thermoplastic elastomers (Hytrel, Arnitel)
Traditional cable/cord materials as well as pultruded composites
Deep knowledge of crack propagation, hysteresis
Systematic material selection approach using Michael Ashby’s methodology
Patent Review, Strategy & Advising
Rapid drafting of a new patent application using customer data.
Helping the customer develop his own IP.
Patentability assessment
Engineering review of claims for clarity & strength
Innovation roadmap advising
Supporting patent attorneys with expert technical input
A personal introduction …
I am a mechanical engineering PhD with specialization in large deformation composite structures. I have three decades of experience in the mobility industry. My work includes leading design, simulation, testing, and failure analysis for pneumatic and non-pneumatic systems across construction, agricultural, military, and consumer applications. I am an educator, a native English speaker, fluent in French.
As one of the original innovators behind the Michelin Tweel™ non-pneumatic tire, I used advanced manufacturing to create a new-to-world non-pneumatic tire combining novel composites, traditional rubber, and polyurethane. I provide unmatched insight into NPT architectures, material behavior, structural performance, finite-element modeling, and manufacturing experience. These are directly transferable to tracks and track systems.
I’ve taught undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering courses at multiple universities and have been named on 34 U.S. patents, many of which I personally authored. My career has been dedicated to advancing mobility technologies.
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