Author: Michele Vignati
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Suspension pickup-points optimization
Description: Kinematic optimisation is a fundamental part of developing a race-car suspension. This activity has broad implications on many other parts of the car, and it occurs at different steps. Once the overall architecture is produced, it is fundamental to assess the best way to setup the pickup points of the suspension legs, in order
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Optimal design of distributed braking system for electric vehicles
The increasing electrification of automotive subsystems is driving the development of advanced mechatronic braking solutions capable of delivering high performance, robustness, and efficiency under a wide range of operating conditions. In particular, single-corner braking systems that integrate electric machines with mechanical braking components represent a promising architecture for future brake-by-wire and electro-mechanical brake applications. This
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Study and Optimization of Automotive Suspension Systems Considering Nonlinear Dynamics
Automotive suspension systems play a fundamental role in determining vehicle ride comfort, road holding, and overall handling performance. Modern vehicles operate over a wide range of driving conditions in which suspension components exhibit significant nonlinear behavior due to geometric effects, nonlinear stiffness characteristics, damping properties, and the interaction with road irregularities. The aim of this
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Lateral Dynamics and Stability Analysis of Electric Scooters
The rapid diffusion of electric scooters as a means of urban transportation has raised significant concerns regarding their dynamic stability and rider safety, particularly in lateral maneuvers such as cornering, obstacle avoidance, and low-speed balancing. Despite their widespread use, the lateral dynamics of electric scooters remain less investigated than those of motorcycles or bicycles, especially
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Multibody simulation of medieval mechanical clock
Background and MotivationThe verge-and-foliot escapement is among the earliest mechanical regulation mechanisms, yet its motion and timekeeping performance remain challenging to predict quantitatively because the device operates through intermittent contact between the crown wheel teeth and the pallets mounted on the verge. From an engineering standpoint, this makes the system highly sensitive to geometry, inertia
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Modeling and control of hybrid powertrain for heavy duty vehicles
This thesis focuses on the modeling and control of hybrid powertrains for heavy-duty vehicles. A comprehensive dynamic model of the powertrain is developed, accounting for the interaction between the internal combustion engine, electric machines, energy storage system, and transmission. Control strategies for power split, energy management, and drivability optimization are investigated under representative operating conditions.
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High-frequency mechanical characterization of rubber compounds
This thesis addresses the high-frequency mechanical characterization of rubber compounds, developed in cooperation with Pirelli. The study focuses on the experimental and analytical identification of the dynamic properties of elastomeric materials under high-frequency excitation, relevant to tire and automotive applications. Advanced testing methodologies are employed to evaluate stiffness, damping, and viscoelastic behavior over a wide
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Study of the effect of different vehicle models on the lap time optimization
This thesis focuses on the study of the influence of different vehicle dynamic models on lap time optimization, with particular attention to how model fidelity affects optimal control solutions and predicted vehicle performance. Lap time optimization is a central topic in motorsport engineering and high-performance vehicle development, where numerical simulation and optimal control techniques are
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Non-linear analysis of powertrain torsional vibration accounting for backlash
This thesis investigates the non-linear torsional vibration behavior of automotive powertrains, explicitly accounting for backlash effects in transmission components. A lumped-parameter dynamic model is developed to represent dead-zone non-linearities, intermittent contact, and impact phenomena. Time- and frequency-domain analyses are performed to study the influence of operating conditions, torque excitation, and system parameters on the dynamic