Vehicle structure and safety: design, simulation, optimization and tests

The research group is specialized in the analysis, modeling, design, construction and subsequent experimental characterization of structures for motor vehicles under the double target of safety and lightweight. The structures of the vehicles are atypical compared with other structures in the mechanical sector as they are characterized by high complexity due to the specific configuration, the use of box-section thin walled structures and more recently of hybrid structures (that is, constituted by parts made with materials of different type) for which it is necessary to use methods of specific structural joints and to take into account the constraints imposed by the production technology.

The design activity of vehicle body structures includes the study of innovative architectural solutions, hybrid and multi-material solutions, lightweight solutions. It also includes the on board devices, such as airbags, seat belts, knee bolster, ...) designed to increase the safety of passengers.

Of particular relevance is the work done in the biomechanical field devoted to the modeling of the human body in order to study the effects of accidents in terms of trauma, and the development of biomechanical models for the assessment of the injury risk in case of impacts.

The research activities carried out in the years include the development of theoretical and Finite Element models, specifically suited to treat highly non-linear dynamic problems, and of experimental measurements for the characterization of the materials of interest, and for the structural analysis of prototypes.

Methods of structural analysis are combined with methods of structural optimization aimed at identifying the optimum value of the design variables to maximize the performance of the structure. To this aim, computational tools have been developed both for the topological optimization, for the shape optimization, and for the optimization of the geometric parameters of the structure, the latter also in presence of strong non-linearities.

The experimental activity is based on a solid competence in experimental mechanics (from the classical strain gage measurements, to the dynamic measurements and the image analysis) and includes various types of tests both quasi-static and dynamic, and  impact tests, devoted to the characterization of the materials of interest (metals, steel, aluminum, composite, plastic, structural foams just to mention the ones for which most of the investigations have been carried out) and to the characterization of the structural response of components, with particular attention to the response in the elastic range, to the identification of collapse loads and to the post-collapse behaviour until its final failure. We have also developed equipments and test systems, sensors and acquisition systems dedicated to the structures and components under investigation.

It is worth of note that many research activities are developed in cooperation and synergy with the research group “Mechanics of materials and joints: models, fatigue, impact and tests

Projects

  • Selected funded research projects
    • STUDIO DEL COMPORTAMENTO STRUTTURALE DELLE FORCOLE TELESCOPICHE MEDIANTE SIMULAZIONE E VALIDAZIONE ATTIVITÀ SPERIMENTALE
      BOURSIER NIUTTA CARLO
      2023 - 2024 (Current)
    • FATIGUE MODELLING AND FAST TESTING METHODOLOGIES TO OPTIMIZE PART DESIGN AND TO BOOST LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS DEPLOYMENT IN CHASSIS PARTS
      PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2021 - 2024 (Current)
    • SISTEMA AUTOMATIZZATO PER L’INCOLLAGGIO O PER LA SEPARAZIONE DI ADESIVI MODIFICATI E SALDATURA O SEPARAZIONE DI MATERIE PLASTICHE CON NANOPARTICELLE SENSIBILI AI CAMPI ELETTROMAGNETICI, SU SCALA INDUSTRIALE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2021 - 2022 (Current)
    • UNDERBODY DESIGN AND LAYOUT FOR EFFICIENT AND SAFE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
      SCATTINA ALESSANDRO
      2021 - 2022 (Current)
    • BATTERY SENSITIVE SIZING AND CONTROL OF HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWERTRAINS
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2020 - 2021 (Current)
    • PROVE DI CREEP SU SMC
      CIARDIELLO RAFFAELE
      2023 - 2023 (Completed)
    • PROVE DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE MATERIALI AUTOMOTIVE
      PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2023 - 2023 (Completed)
    • RIVA – RUOTA IDRODINAMICA PER IL VARO E ALAGGIO
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2022 - 2023 (Completed)
    • PROROGA DEL CONTRATTO DI RICERCA DAL TITOLO “CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI METALLICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE” DEL 21/05/2020 – RESPONSABILE SCIENTIFICO PROF. DAVIDE SALVATORE PAOLINO
      PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2021 - 2022 (Completed)
    • CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY - HYBRID/ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN AND VEHICLE LABORATORY
      AMATI NICOLA, BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2020 - 2022 (Completed)
    • MODELLAZIONE E OTTIMIZZAZIONE STRUTTURALE DI UN MANIPOLATORE DI ASSERVIMENRO COMPONENTI
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2021 - 2021 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO ALLE ATTIVITÀ DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI METALLICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2020 - 2021 (Completed)
    • ADVANCED CRASHWORTHINESS ASSESSMENT FOR INNOVATIVE LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS
      PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2019 - 2020 (Completed)
    • HUMAN MODELS FOR PASSENGER SAFETY IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, SCATTINA ALESSANDRO
      2019 - 2020 (Completed)
    • STUDIO DI INTEGRAZIONI DI SENSORI PER LA MISURA DELL'INTEGRITÀ STRUTTURALE IN COMPONENTI DI SOSPENSIONE IN MATERIA COMPOSITO
      AMATI NICOLA, BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, TONOLI ANDREA
      2019 - 2020 (Completed)
    • AMICO – ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING E AUTOMAZIONE PROCESSO PER MATERIALI IBRIDI E COMPOSITI
      BADINI CLAUDIO FRANCESCO, PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2018 - 2020 (Completed)
    • SVILUPPO TECNOLOGICO DELL'ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN PIEMONTE
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO, IULIANO LUCA, LOMBARDI MARIANGELA, MACII ALBERTO, PERRONE GUIDO
      2016 - 2019 (Completed)
    • GREEN FACTORY FOR COMPOSITES
      BADINI CLAUDIO FRANCESCO, BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, CASU MARIO ROBERTO, FERRARIS MONICA, MINETOLA PAOLO, ZANETTI MARIACHIARA
      2016 - 2019 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO ALLE ATTIVITÀ DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI POLIMERICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE.
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2018 - 2018 (Completed)
    • SOSPENSIONI LEGGERE 2 - SOLE 2
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2017 - 2018 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO ALLE ATTIVITA' DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI POLIMERICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2017 - 2017 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO DELLE ATTIVITÀ DI COLLABORAZIONE UOMO - ROBOT
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2017 - 2017 (Completed)
    • STUDIO DELL'ESPANSIONE MECCANICA DI TUBI IN TITANIO
      SCATTINA ALESSANDRO
      2016 - 2016 (Completed)
    • MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR AND FAILURE MODE OF STRUCTURAL THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES
      PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2016 - 2016 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO ALLE ATTIVITÀ DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI POLIMETRICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2016 - 2016 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO ALLE ATTIVITÀ DI CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI MATERIALI POLIMERICI PER APPLICAZIONI AUTOMOBILISTICHE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, PAOLINO DAVIDE SALVATORE
      2015 - 2016 (Completed)
    • SIMULAZIONE NUMERICA DERL COMPORTAMENTO A CRASH DI COMPONENTI AUTOMOTIVE IN MATERIALE COMPOSITO - ATTIVITÀ 2015
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2015 - 2016 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO DELLE ATTIVITÀ DI COLLABORAZIONE UOMO-ROBOT
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2015 - 2016 (Completed)
    • SUPPORTO DELLE ATTIVITÀ DI COLLABORAZIONE UOMO-ROBOT.
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2014 - 2015 (Completed)
    • SISTEMI INNOVATIVI DI PREVENZIONE DEGLI INCIDENTI STRADALI
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2013 - 2015 (Completed)
    • THOR
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, FIORI FRANCO, MACII ENRICO, PASERO EROS GIAN ALESSANDRO, VAGATI ALFREDO
      2013 - 2015 (Completed)
    • SAGE - SAFE AND GREEN ROAD VEHICLES
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, SPESSA EZIO
      2011 - 2014 (Completed)
    • MACADI – SVILUPPO DI MODELLI E METODI DI CALCOLO PER L’ANALISI DI STRUTTURE IN MATERIALE POLIMERICO E COMPOSITO SOTTO CARICHI DINAMICI E D’IMPATTO
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2011 - 2014 (Completed)
    • SMAX - PROGETTAZIONE E SVILUPPO DI UN ASSALE INTELLIGENTE (SMART AXLE)
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO, PAVESE MATTEO, TONOLI ANDREA
      2011 - 2013 (Completed)
    • FLEX-MECH NEW ADVANCED MECHANICAL SYSTEMS FOR FLEXIBLE AND CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTION
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2009 - 2012 (Completed)
    • TREES - THE 5 STARS OF SUSTAINABLE PRIVATE MOBILITY
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, CHIADO' PIAT VALERIA, PRIOLA ALDO
      2007 - 2010 (Completed)
    • CONFIGURAZIONE IDEALE DI UNO SCI PER DISABILI E SUA PROGETTAZIONE
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2008 - 2009 (Completed)
    • RIDUZIONE DEI CONSUMI E AUMENTO DELLA SICUREZZA NEI TRASPORTI DI SUPERFICIE MEDIANTE TRATTAMENTI TERMICI NON CONVENZIONALI DI LEGHE LEGGERE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI, DOGLIONE ROBERTO
      2006 - 2009 (Completed)
    • SLC - SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES OF EMISSION REDUCED LIGHT WEIGHT CAR CONCEPTS
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2005 - 2009 (Completed)
    • APROSYS - INTEGRATED PROJECT ON ADVANCED PROTECTION SYSTEMS
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2004 - 2009 (Completed)
    • PARERE TECNICO PER LA VALUTAZIONE DEI RISCHI IN MERITO ALLO STOCCAGGIO E MOVIMENTAZIONE DEI NASTRI DI LAMIERA PRESSO LO STABILIMENTO
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2007 - 2008 (Completed)
    • PROGETTAZIONE DEL BANDO DI GARA PER LA GESTIONE DELL'INNEVAMENTO ARTIFICIALE ALL'INTERNO DEL COMPRENSORIO DELLA VIA LATTEA
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2007 - 2007 (Completed)
    • PROGETTAZIONE STRUTTURALE DI UN VELIVOLO NON ABITATO (UAV) PER LA PREVENZIONE E IL MONITORAGGIO DEGLI INCENDI: MINIMIZZAZIONE DEL PESO E SALVAGUARDIA DELLA STRUMENTAZIONE A BORDO IN CASO DI URTO CON IL SUOLO.
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2004 - 2006 (Completed)
    • COSTRUZIONE E VALIDAZIONE DI MODELLO VIRTUALE DI TESTA UMANA (HUMAN MODEL): TRAUMI, DANNO BIOLOGICO E MECCANISMI DI LESIONE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2004 - 2006 (Completed)
    • A METHODOLOGY FOR DURABILITY ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES UNDER CYCLIC LOADS (COMPASS)
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2001 - 2004 (Completed)
    • ADVANCE VIRTUAL ANALYSIS OF CRASH ENVIRONMENTS FOR PASSENGER SAFETY SIMULATIONS
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2001 - 2004 (Completed)
    • VALUTAZIONE DELLE PRESTAZIONI DI RETI DI CALCOLATORI (CLUSTER) E DI CALCOLATORI MULTIPROCESSORE AD ALTA VELOCITÀ DI CALCOLO PER IL MIGLIORAMENTO DELLA SICUREZZA DI AUTOBUS EXTRAURBANO.
      CHIANDUSSI GIORGIO
      2001 - 2003 (Completed)
    • ECBOS - ENHANCED COACH AND BUS OCCUPANT SAFETY
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      2000 - 2003 (Completed)
    • CONTROLLI NON DISTRUTTIVI E CARATTERIZZAZIONE AD IMPATTO DI GIUNZIONI STRUTTURALI INCOLLATE
      BELINGARDI GIOVANNI
      1999 - 2001 (Completed)

Publications