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The paper presents a failsafe strategy conceived for a Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system developed by the Vehicle Dynamics Research Team of Politecnico di Torino. The main equations used by the failsafe algorithm are presented, especially those devoted to estimate steering wheel angle, body yaw rate and lateral acceleration, each of them fundamental to correctly actuate the VDC. The estimation is based on redundancy; each formula is considered according to a weight depending on the kind of maneuver. A new recovery algorithm is presented, which does not deactivate VDC after a sensor fault, but substitutes the sensor signal with the virtually estimated value. The results obtained through simulation are satisfactory. First experimental tests carried out on a ABS/VDC test bench of the Vehicle Dynamics Research Team of Politecnico di Torino confirmed the simulation results.

This article deals with a novel 2-speed transmission system specifically designed for electric axle applications. The design of this transmission permits seamless gearshifts and is characterized by a simple mechanical layout. The equations governing the overall system dynamics are presented in the paper. The principles of the control system for the seamless gearshifts achievable by the novel transmission prototype - currently under experimental testing at the University of Surrey and on a prototype vehicle - are analytically demonstrated and detailed through advanced simulation tools. The simulation results and sensitivity analyses for the main parameters affecting the overall system dynamics are presented and discussed.

The paper deals with the elaboration of an Active Roll Control (ARC) oriented both on comfort and handling improvement. The ARC determines hydraulically the variation of the equivalent stiffness of the anti-roll bars. The control strategies conceived were extensively validated through road tests managed on an Alfa Romeo sedan. The first part of the paper deals with comfort improvement, mainly consisting in an absence of bar effect during straight-ahead travel and in a modification of the roll characteristic of the car. To increase driver's handling feeling, it was necessary to optimise the ratio between front and rear roll stiffness. This purpose can be reached through control strategies based exclusively on lateral acceleration. Some control strategy corrections were necessary to optimise roll damping and front/rear roll stiffness balancing.

Chassis Control Systems development methodology is nowadays strongly based on analyzing performance by using PC vehicle dynamics simulation. Generally, the overall design, test bench and road validation process is continuously accompanied by simulation. The Base Model Simulator was developed by the Vehicle Dynamics Group at the Department of Mechanics of Politecnico di Torino both to satisfy this requirement and for educational purposes. It considers a complete vehicle dynamics mathematical model, including driver, powertrain, driveline, vehicle body, suspensions, steering system, brakes, tires. The Base Model Simulator takes in account the suspensions system elastokinematics, including, for example, automatic computation of camber variation during the vehicle roll motions. Tire model considered are either Pacejka's models or experimental data.

The paper deals with a method implemented to study braking systems design, modelling components' characteristics through commercial software. It summarizes the potential improvement possible by using modelling techniques in chassis systems design. The first part consisted in producing a passive braking system model. A first validation was carried out on a test bench by using components of different braking systems. Particular attention was devoted to booster modelization both in semi-stationary and dynamic conditions. The second part was callipers, roll-back and thermal phenomena modelization. Finally, it were modelled Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) Hydraulic Units and their integration with control strategies and with vehicle dynamics model.

It is universally recognized that torsional stiffness is one of the most important properties of a vehicle chassis, [ 1 ]. There are several reasons for which high chassis stiffness is preferable. Lack of chassis torsional stiffness affects the lateral load transfer distribution, it allows displacements of the suspension attachment points that modify suspension kinematics and it can trigger unwanted dynamic effects like resonance phenomena or vibrations, [ 2 ]. The present paper introduces two analytical vehicle models that constitute an efficient tool for a correct evaluation of the main effects of chassis torsional stiffness on vehicle dynamics. In the first part an enhanced steady-state vehicle model is derived and employed for the analysis of the vehicle handling. The model takes account of chassis torsional stiffness for the evaluation of the lateral load transfer and, by means of the concept of the axle cornering stiffness, includes the effects of tire non-linear behavior.

The paper presents linear and non-linear driveline models for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in order to evaluate the main parameters for optimal tuning, when considering the drivability. The implemented models consider the linear and non-linear driveline dynamics, including the effect of the engine inertia, the clutch damper, the driveshaft, the half-shafts and the tires. Sensitivity analyses are carried out for each driveline component during tip-in maneuvers. The paper also analyses the overall frequency response using Bode diagrams and natural frequencies. It is demonstrated that the most basic model capable of taking into account the first order dynamics of the driveline must consider the moments of inertia of the engine, the transmission and the wheels, the stiffness and the damping properties of the clutch damper, driveshaft and half-shafts, and the tires (which link the wheel to the equivalent inertia of the vehicle).

The paper presents the research activity managed to investigate the dynamics of a 4WD vehicle equipped considering drivelines with different layout. The procedure developed required to conceive an on purpose simulator to compare performance through virtual experimentation. Drivelines mechanical main characteristics and performance increasing due to control strategy were evaluated. Preliminary road test were performed with a single driveline layout, to evaluate simulation reliability and limits. The paper presents the 4WD vehicle simulator, the main equations applied to model open, torque sensing and limited slip differentials, some preliminary road test results showing torque sensing driveline performance.

E-mobility is a game changer for the automotive domain. It promises significant reduction in terms of complexity and in terms of local emissions. With falling prices and recent technological advances, the second generation of electric vehicles (EVs) that is now in production makes electromobility an affordable and viable option for more and more transport mission (people, freight). Current e-vehicle platforms still present architectural similarities with respect to combustion engine vehicle (e.g., centralized motor). Target of the European project EVC1000 is to introduce corner solutions with in-wheel motors supported by electrified chassis components (brake-by-wire, active suspension) and advanced control strategies for full potential exploitation. Especially, it is expected that this solution will provide more architectural freedom toward “design-for-purpose” vehicles built for dedicated usage models, further providing higher performances.

The previously published equation found on page 492 contains an error which is corrected in the erratum.

The first step toward a braking system ‘by wire’ is Electro-Hydraulic Braking System (EHB). The paper describes a method to evaluate through virtual experimentation the actual improvement in vehicle behaviour, from the point of view of both handling and comfort, including also pedal feeling, due to EHB. The first step consisted in modelling the hydraulic unit, comprehensive of sensors. Then it was conceived a control logic devoted to medium-low intensity braking manoeuvres, without ABS intervention, to determine an optimal braking force distribution and pedal feeling depending on the manoeuvre. A failsafe strategy, complete of on board diagnosis, to prevent dangerous system behaviour in the eventuality of a component failure was carried out and tested. Finally, EHB wheel pressure sensors were used to improve both ABS performance, increasing the adherence estimation, and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) performance, through a more precise actuation.

The paper presents the approach followed by Politecnico di Torino Vehicle Dynamics Research team to design an electro-mechanical Active Roll Control (ARC) system. The first part of the paper describes the targets of the system, which has to improve both comfort and handling. Different solutions for the implementation of the electro-mechanical actuation were evaluated. A prototype of the electro-mechanical Active Roll Control was built and experimentally tested in the Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory of the Department of Mechanics of Politecnico di Torino, by adopting a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test bench. The experimental results show the benefits of the system, both in a stand alone configuration and integrated with an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.

The aim of this paper is the conception of a tire model which allows a good fit with the physical experimental behavior of the component. In the meanwhile, the model should be simple enough to permit real time vehicle dynamics simulation, in the same way as the diffused Pacejka's model. The paper discusses the influence of the model for the estimation of contact patch properties on the overall tire forces and moments. It demonstrates that unrealistic models of the contact patch can lead to a good fit with the experimental data (in terms of forces and self-aligning moment), even if the real physics of the tire is not reproduced. A realistic model implies a significant reduction of the stiffness of the brushes as a function of the vertical load between the tire and the road surface.

Over the last decade the simulation of driving cycles through longitudinal vehicle models has become an important stage in the design, analysis and selection of vehicle powertrains. This paper presents an overview of existing software packages, along with the development of a new multipurpose driving cycle simulator implemented in the Matlab/Simulink environment. In order to evaluate the performance of the simulator, a MAN TGL 12.240 multi-usage delivery vehicle was fitted with a CAN-bus data logger and used to create a series of ‘real-life’ drive cycles. These were inputted into the vehicle model and the simulated fuel mass flow-rate and engine rotational speed were compared to those experimentally obtained.

The paper presents a 4-wheel-steering (4WS) control strategy devoted to reduce the turn diameter for small longitudinal speed values and to obtain a yaw rate damping effect in dynamic manoeuvres. Moreover, the 4WS active system conceived produces compensation both for lateral wind and road irregularities. The main results obtained through a functional vehicle model are presented. 4WS was integrated with a Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which was improved for turn while braking manoeuvres. The results due to integration were very good, with a reduction of both systems interventions. Finally, a VDC-4WS-Active Roll Control (ARC) integration was tried, based on only one reference body yaw rate for all the active systems. The main results obtained are presented and discussed.

This paper presents an experimental methodology which can be adopted to measure the friction torque of the bearings in the wheel hubs of passenger vehicles. The first section of the paper highlights the reasons why an experimental device is necessary to have an objective evaluation of the performance of the bearing in terms of friction. In particular, the high level of approximation of the current formulas for the estimation of the friction inside a single bearing is discussed and demonstrated. An analytical methodology for the evaluation of the distribution of the axial load between the two bearings of the wheel hub is presented. However, its practical application for the precise calculation of the distribution of the load has to be checked through experimental tests.

The paper describes Politecnico di Torino braking systems test bench, based on hardware in the loop (HIL). The test bench, consisting of the whole braking system hardware, can be used for: Analysis of passive braking systems, to determine the main characteristics both in semi-stationary and dynamic conditions; Analysis of passive braking systems, to investigate the influence of eventual asymmetries on vehicle behaviour, since a vehicle model runs in real time and receives wheels pressure values by the sensors on the physical device; Analysis of Commercial Anti-lock Braking/Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Systems, both from the point of view of control strategies and hydraulic units performance; Definition of new ABS/ESP control strategies, e.g. considering wheels caliper pressure signals as inputs, using pre-existing commercial hydraulic units.

Firstly, the paper presents Politecnico di Torino Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) brake systems test bench. Secondly, it describes in detail all the necessary basic tests to characterize, on the bench, an ESP hydraulic unit: for example, step response of each valve, measurement of pressure limiter valves calibration, step response of motor pump unit. The experimental results are reported. Thirdly, the paper deals with the frequency response of ESP valves, by using Pulse Width Modulation. Pressure gradients and pressure oscillations obtained in the tests are commented in detail. An open loop actuation strategy for ESP is presented, permitting to obtain, in each condition, the desired wheels pressure levels, without having any output pressure sensor in the hydraulic unit. This strategy was conceived by simulation and then successfully tested on the bench. An ESP control strategy, complete of a diagnostic algorithm, was added to the actuation logic described before and tested on the bench.

The paper shortly describes an ABS/ESP Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test bench built by the Vehicle Dynamics Team of the Department of Mechanics of Politecnico di Torino. It consists of a whole brake system, integrated through specific interface (e.g. wheel pressures signals) with a vehicle model running in real time on a dSPACE® board. Different commercial ABS strategies are compared, in a large spectrum of manoeuvres: slow brake apply manoeuvres, panic brake manoeuvres, μ-split brake manoeuvres, brake manoeuvres with a sudden variation of the friction coefficient between tyres and ground. The paper deals with the generation of all the signals required for activating a commercial ESP: steering wheel angle, body yaw rate, body lateral acceleration, engine control, etc… Some of them are transmitted by CAN. Typical handling manoeuvres are used to test the ESP: step steer, double step steer, ramp steer, etc… Several brake manoeuvres are simulated while turning.

The purpose of this paper is to deal with the frequency response of rigid and articulated vehicles subjected to a steering input. In particular, the effect of tire dynamics is considered in detail. Tire delays in lateral force generation can be modeled by adopting first or second order transfer functions. The paper compares the structure of the overall transfer functions simulating the entire vehicle. The results related to three alternative linear vehicle models are presented, in order to draw some objective conclusions about the real effect of relaxation length at low and average velocities.