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Aerodynamics is one of the most important factors in the development of racing cars. At the speeds of formula cars reach the formula cars, the driver's neck can be subjected to stresses resulting from the aerodynamic forces acting on the helmet; developing an aerodynamic project that takes into account the comfort of the driver without affecting performance is certainly considered a challenging activity. The aim of the present work is to develop a low-pitching-momenthelmet for formula racing cars optimizing the shape and location, applying some aerodynamic appendices. This goal is pursued by adopting an approach based on both experimental and numerical activities. First, the aerodynamic configuration of an existing helmet was examined; through a testing campaign in the wind tunnel facilities of Perugia University, pressures acting on the helmet were scanned at various speeds and data about aerodynamic drag were collected.

Knocking noise is a transient structural noise triggered by piston rod vibrations in the shock absorber that excite the vibration of chassis components. Piston rod vibrations can be caused by valve motion (opening and closing) and dry friction during stroke inversions. This study investigates shock absorber knocking noise in twin tube gas-filled automotive shock absorbers and its aim is to define an acceptance criterion for a sample check of the component. If, in fact, the damper comes from a large mass production, it may happen that small mounting differences lead to different behaviors that result in higher or lower levels of knocking noise. To achieve this goal, experimental tests were carried out using a hydraulic test bench; accelerometers were placed in proximity to the rebound valve and on the piston rod. The vibration phenomenon was then isolated through a post-processing analysis and a damped and unforced lumped mass model was used to characterize the vibration.

Shock absorber is one of the most relevant sub-systems of the suspension system for a wide range of vehicles. Although a high level of development and tuning has been reached, in order to ensure high safety standards in almost every situation, some dynamic phenomena affecting vehicle handling or NHV (Noise Vibration Harshness) can appear. The aim of present work is to improve a mathematical model using experimental data from a prototype of monotube shock absorber developed for research purposes. The model takes into account all the main features affecting the global performance of the device, such as non-linear behaviour and the presence of hysteresis loops. Actually, the most important parameters are analyzed, such as flow and orifice coefficients of the valves, coefficients of mechanical compliance of the chambers and oil compressibility, dry and viscous friction coefficients.

Design processes of modern race car are often developed in short time; during this period a large number of parameters has to be tuned to reach best results. Many kind of vehicle dynamics simulation models have been developed by car manufacturers and private suppliers to investigate car behavior on racing tracks. Such models have a high degree of complexity but they can be employed, in a simplified mode, during design processes of racing cars for which tracks technical data (for such circuits where they will race) are well known. During the first stages of the design activity very complex numerical models (such as multibody simulations) are not necessary and it is possible to use simplified methods to locate optimal solutions in a fast way. In present work a numerical model, able to reproduce car behavior on a defined circuit or simply analyze meaningful test cases (breaking, steering,…), is used to appraise performances of race car with different technical configuration.