VEHICLE DYNAMICS AND CONTROL

Synthetic program:

The course contents are delivered through lectures and numerical lab activities.

Module 1 General notions.

Topic 1.1 The dynamic behavior on the straight line and cornering of the vehicle

Topic 1.2 Concepts of "performance", "handling", “stability”, "ride comfort" and “safety”.

Module 2 Analysis of vehicle dynamics with Multi-Body techniques. 

Topic 2.1 Definition of space kinematics. Equations of motion in matrix form for nonlinear systems: the minimal set and the Lagrange multipliers methods.

Topic 2.2 Steady state and transient conditions, linearization; perturbed motion analysis.

Module 3 The characteristics of the tire-road contact forces.

Topic 3.1 Tire-road: definition of slips and slip angles, force characteristics, generalities, and dependencies with respect to most relevant quantities.

Topic 3.2 Brush model for pure longitudinal slip, pure lateral slip, combined slip.

Topic 3.3 Magic Formula, transient tire models.

Module 4 Vehicle longitudinal dynamics

Topic 4.1 Longitudinal dynamics, acceleration and braking motion, aerodynamic forces (notes)

Topic 4.2 Cruise control.

Topic 4.3 Braking system generalities, optimal force distribution, EBD, ABS

Module 5 Vehicle vertical dynamics

Topic 5.1 The irregularity of the runway: random vibrations, track and road irregularity. Human response to vibration, and effects on health.

Topic 5.2 Vehicle models for vertical dynamics, comfort indices (regulations),

Topic 5.3 Active suspensions system. Active and semiactive dampers. Skyhook control law.

Topic 5.4 Chassis deformability effects.

Module 6 Vehicle lateral dynamics

Topic 6.1 Analysis of lateral dynamics. General behavior, definition of vehicle kinematics

Topic 6.2 Dynamics of the car on the straight line and cornering with simplified and complex models; steady state and transient definition;

Topic 6.3 linearization and stability analysis; vehicle over and under steering concepts, handling diagrams.

Topic 6.4 Simulation of the behavior on the straight and cornering of the complete vehicle (MB models). Safety and regulations.

Topic 6.2 Control of vehicle lateral dynamics, ESP and Torque Vectoring, and active rear wheel steering.

Topic 6.6 Driver model