This thesis focuses on the nonlinear identification of a railway pantograph using Control-Based Continuation (CBC), a class of experimental techniques that enables the reconstruction of the nonlinear frequency response of a system under closed-loop operation.
The goal is to develop and validate a methodology to identify the main nonlinear features of the pantograph, such as amplitude-dependent stiffness and damping effects, starting from experimental or numerical data. The work may include the definition of a reduced-order model, the implementation of CBC-based tests, the analysis of the measured response, and the comparison between identified and reference dynamics.
The thesis will involve both the development of CBC on synthetic examples (numerically) and the experimental validation on a test rig on a real pantograph from our laboratories, controlled with a Speadgoat board (Matlab Simulink).
The project is suitable for students interested in nonlinear dynamics, system identification, structural vibrations, and control.
Contacts: Jacopo Marconi, Alan Facchinetti