2007 — 2011 |
Sandu, Corina Wen, Ben |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Goali Collaborative Research: Analytical Modeling and Experimental Analysis of Tires Under Uncertain Intrinsic and Operational Parameters @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
This project addresses challenging aspects in modeling complex nonlinear mechanical systems, such as terrain vehicles and pneumatic tires, in the context of their operating environment. Within the scope of this study we will develop an analytical and computational framework to efficiently model such systems in the presence of parametric and external uncertainty. Specifically, we will develop methods to accurately represent the operating environment and the vehicle-terrain interaction. Moreover, we will conduct experimental studies using high-end technology to analyze the physical phenomena at the tire-terrain contact, and to validate the modeling techniques developed. For realistic performance predictions multibody dynamic models must account for uncertainties resulting from poorly-known environment parameters and rapidly-changing forcing functions. This project will employ the polynomial chaos expansion to simulate multibody dynamic systems with parametric and external uncertainties. This method is applicable to highly nonlinear systems, is computationally efficient, and can handle large uncertainties. Off-road vehicles represent a rich test-bed for the theoretical and experimental work proposed. Their performance prediction requires accurate models of the vehicle, the tire, and the terrain, all of which are affected by uncertainties. This project will model the soil from the standpoint of its dynamic interaction with a running vehicle, and will develop stochastic models for hard-to-predict soil characteristics. We will also employ a multi-step stochastic technique to simulate a rough terrain profile which does not impose unrealistic assumptions, and can be seamlessly incorporated in the vehicle-operating environment model. Further, the study will investigate innovative analytical methods to develop computationally efficient off-road tire models. The theoretical and the computational tools developed will significantly advance the field of multibody dynamics beyond the current deterministic paradigm, and will enable the development of appropriate control strategies. These tools are not domain specific and can also be applied to autonomous vehicles, industrial manipulators, actuators, and human body modeling.
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2010 — 2012 |
Ahmadian, Mehdi (co-PI) [⬀] Sandu, Corina Taheri, Saied Furukawa, Tomonari (co-PI) [⬀] Ferris, John (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Tire Research and Test Center @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
0968912 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Saied Taheri 0968940 University of Akron; Celal Batur
The Center for Tire Research and Test Center (Tire TeC) will focus on building a base of research, engineering education, and technology transfer that will impact industrial practice and productivity through advanced materials and intelligent tire technologies. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) and the University of Akron (UA) are collaborating to establish the proposed center, with VT as the lead institution.
The primary goals of this planning project are to initiate formal partnership with various industry partners and national laboratories that have an interest in tire technologies, and to discuss fundamental issues and topics for research. The proposed IUCRC will generate new scientific knowledge; develop novel smart-material-based tires, novel nanotechnology-based tire compounds, and intelligent tire technology; and advance their associated dynamic models and constitutive relationships by developing virtual and hardware-in-the-loop-based simulation environments. The various envisioned research thrusts will provide solutions to improve the industry's yield and contribute to its competitiveness.
If successful, the proposed Center has the potential to improve sustainability and profitability of US tire manufacturing industry by developing new technologies that will reduce energy consumption, pollution and increase driving safety. The Center will greatly enhance the infrastructure and lead to other opportunities to assist the tire manufacturers. The proposed center plans to provide students and faculty with a platform for conducting industry-relevant research, establish an effective mechanism for collaboration, and will help promote, catalyze, and accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies. Finally, Tire TeC will recruit participants from groups traditionally under-represented in Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and other scientific disciplines and will promote this center through its ongoing working relationships with colleagues at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia Campus and the Middle Eastern and Northern Africa (VT-MENA) campuses.
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2011 — 2015 |
Sandu, Adrian Sandu, Corina |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Optimal Design of Constrained Multibody Dynamical Systems @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The overarching goal of this proposal is to develop a rigorous framework for the optimization of multibody dynamical systems with joint constraints, contact, and friction. This will be accomplished by developing new tools for the optimization of dynamical systems described by differential algebraic equations or by differential equations with inequality constraints. This will be accomplished by: (a) optimizing multibody systems with joints under constraints on the admissible parameter set; (b) optimizing multibody systems with joints under constraints on the admissible trajectory. Such constraints occur in trajectory planning where static obstacles are avoided, and when physical considerations limit the motion; (c) optimizing multibody systems with joints, contacts, and friction. This is the most challenging scenario since the contact forces are discontinuous. (d) identifying and developing efficient numerical solution techniques for the new algorithms developed.
The results of this project will provide tools for optimizing a large class of dynamical systems which were not otherwise possible to implement. Areas that will benefit from the results of this project include robotics, vehicle dynamics, aerospace engineering, biomedical device engineering, and military applications. The proposed work will have a significant educational component at post-doctoral, graduate, undergraduate, and K-12 levels. The results of the project will be incorporated in a graduate level course. Lectures will be given at the Women in Computer Day events. The project will support the organization of an annual Merit Badge College Workshop to promote interest in science and engineering among K-12 students. The research findings will be disseminated through journal papers and conference proceedings.
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2012 — 2017 |
Sandu, Corina Taheri, Saied Ferris, John (co-PI) [⬀] Furukawa, Tomonari (co-PI) [⬀] Ahmadian, Mehdi (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
I/Ucrc Phase I: Center For Tire Research @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
/UCRC for Tire Research
1160977 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Saied Taheri
1160982 University of Akron; Celal Batur
The Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) will focus on supporting a research program in tire materials, modeling, manufacturing, and testing combined with rubber material prototyping and testing, and parallel computing and dynamic simulation capabilities. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) and the University of Akron (UA) are collaborating to establish the proposed center, with VT as the lead institution.
The primary goals of the proposed center are to initiate formal partnerships with various industry partners and national laboratories that have an interest in tire technologies, and to discuss fundamental issues and topics for research. The Center will fulfill the needs of the tire manufacturing companies by providing innovative solutions in all four research thrust areas of materials, modeling, manufacturing, and testing. The vehicle manufacturing companies are more interested in the application of tire in their products. The Center is built upon the knowledge and expertise of multi-disciplinary researchers in Mechanical, Polymer, and Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech (VT) and the University of Akron (UA). CenTiRe intends to provide the industry with highly trained undergraduate and graduate students who will contribute to this growing industry.
If successful, the proposed Center has the potential to improve sustainability and profitability of US tire manufacturing industry by developing new technologies that will reduce energy consumption, pollution and increase driving safety. The Center plans to graduate a new generation of specialists in tire engineering providing the industry with access to potential employees. The members and the organizational structure of the CenTiRe will promote precompetitive research that will allow the members to rapidly and cost-effectively bring new products to market. Finally, the Center will become a conduit for the professional training and education of not just graduate students from underrepresented and women engineering groups, but also representatives from industry through its outreach programs.
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2013 — 2016 |
West, Robert (co-PI) [⬀] Sandu, Corina Taheri, Saied Furukawa, Tomonari (co-PI) [⬀] Ahmadian, Mehdi (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Reu Site: Summer Internships in Tire Engineering @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
This REU Site program for Tire Engineering is a multidisciplinary research program for undergraduate students. This site will train 10 undergraduate students each year by providing them with research as well as hands-on training that will help them with their future education as well as career opportunities. The students are subjected to all aspects of tire engineering and are provided with individual challenging research projects that include conceptual, theoretical and numerical design and analysis, and hands-on components in state-of-the-art research laboratories. The individual research projects are integrated into an interdisciplinary, team-based environment where research results will be used to prove a hypothesis. Talented community college and university undergraduate students, particularly underrepresented and women, are recruited to conduct research in this field. Through this REU Site, a diverse program is created and students are motivated to continue their studies towards a bachelor degree (for the community college students) and a graduate degree (for the university students). This project is fully supported by the National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers.
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2017 — 2022 |
Sandu, Corina Taheri, Saied Ferris, John (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Phase Ii I/Ucrc Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Center For Tire Research (Centire) @ Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) is a collaboration between NSF, Virginia Tech and the University of Akron with Virginia Tech as the lead site. The Center?s Mission is to improve road transportation safety by understanding the complex interactions between the tire, road surface and the vehicle, and then applying this knowledge to improve tire materials, manufacturing, simulation and testing methods. This mission is broadly supported with complementary expertise from companies in the vehicle, tire, materials, and testing fields. To support this mission, the Virginia Tech site will conduct and disseminate innovative research and solutions in tire and vehicle modeling and simulation tools, tire-road interaction characterization and modeling (force and moment modeling, friction and wear, noise, and vibration), related test equipment development, and intelligent tire system and the University of Akron will provide innovative industrial research in tire materials, material models, simulation tools, test equipment, and manufacturing methods. This recent award enables CenTiRe to move into Phase 2. The Center is proud to promote the progress of science by directly supporting the education and training of a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate students.
With the advancements made in vehicle as well as road design, the demand on tire performance has increased tremendously in the past few years. Therefore, the need for fundamental and applied research for the tire industry has increased significantly. The Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) has the objective to conduct and disseminate innovations in tire science and technology through conducting research and finding solutions for new materials, models, simulation tools, test equipment, and manufacturing methods. Since Virginia Tech (VT) is globally known for tire and vehicle engineering, VT will conduct research to better understand tire performance through model development, simulation and testing. This includes but is not limited to: tire and vehicle dynamic modeling using physics-based, experiment-based and finite element methods; tire-road interaction modeling for friction, wear and noise; intelligent tire development for tire health monitoring; road profiling and friction estimation; and some innovative materials development for enhanced tire performance. The University of Akron is globally known for its polymer science and engineering, and makes its strongest contribution in the field of materials development, modeling, simulation, and testing. Specifically: analyzing rubber-filler interactions, new materials design, tire noise minimization, materials fracture and sustainability testing as well as development of constitutive laws for materials. The developed technologies from these two universities within CenTiRe will aim at improving tire traction properties, fuel economy, environmental impact, as well as functional performances such as handling, ride, noise, and wear. Cars and trucks play a major role in our nation's economy. Therefore, the demand for engineers and scientists who are highly knowledgeable in tire technology will significantly grow in the future. Both Virginia Tech and the University of Akron have been well known as institutions which provide a well-trained workforce for our relevant industries by providing rigorous training for our undergraduate and graduate students as well as seminars and industrial courses for life-long learners in the field. Therefore, CenTiRe, and more specifically Virginia Tech and the University of Akron, have developed a rigorous training process which includes analytical as well as hands-on research plus several graduate level courses which will help the students find positions within the member companies after graduation.
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