Session: AVT-02-01: Advances in Methods for Ground Vehicle Systems Design

Paper Number: 143484

143484 - Advanced Tire Testing by an Innovative Moving Laboratory for Automotive Components Safety Assessment (MoLAS) 

The paper presents an innovative moving laboratory (MoLAS - MOving Laboratory for
Automotive components Safety) for tire testing. Tire characterization is of crucial importance for design and
development of efficient and safe vehicles. The MoLAS system is mounted on a semi-
trailer to be pulled for outdoor tire characterization under realistic grip condition. The vertical load is controlled by means of
a pneumatic spring actuator mounted on top of a moving platform guided by linear ball sliders. A double-stage suspension
system allows to filter out the vertical disturbance induced by road irregularity.  Two electric actuators are used to precisely control steering and camber angles. The tire forces and moments are measured by using an innovative six-axis force sensor specifically designed for the purpose.
The main innovation introduced by the MoLAS with respect to the state-of-art test systems relies in the possibility to test the
tire both in traction and braking longitudinal slip conditions.
This is achieved by an internal combustion engine and a retarder electromagnetic brake mounted on the driveline. A complete tire characterization has been performed by placing the MoLAS system on the RuotaVia drum of the LaST laboratory at Politecnico di Milano. The main results are presented in the paper.

Presenting Author: Massimiliano Gobbi Politecnico di Milano

Presenting Author Biography: Massimiliano Gobbi received the master’s degree (Hons.) in mechanical engineering in 1994 and the Ph.D. degree in applied mechanics in 1997. In 1998, he was a Visiting Scholar with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. He is currently a Full Professor with the Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. He has authored more than 200 articles. He is the author of seven international patents and three books.

Authors:

Federico Ballo Politecnico di Milano
Alessio Biffi Politecnico di Milano
Massimiliano Gobbi Politecnico di Milano
Giampiero Mastinu Politecnico di Milano