Lagrangian dynamics - Principle of virtual work and virtual power - holonomic and non holonomic contraints - 3D rigid body dynamics - equilibrium - linearization - stability - vibrations - frequency response

The bachelor's thesis is the culmination of the program. The students develop, enhance, and demonstrate their methodological abilities to independently tackle and solve a given research problem. The thesis furnishes the students with their first major research experience, and is a further development of the work done in the basis courses, and usually, the focused study.

Dynamics of particles, rigid bodies, and deformable bodies: Motion of a single particle, motion of systems of particles, 2D and 3D motion of rigid bodies, vibrations, 1D waves.

Contents: inequality problems in dynamics, in particular friction and impact problems: discontinuities in velocity and acceleration, accumulation points, combinatorial problems, set-valued constitutive laws, unilateral contacts, sprag clutches, friction, pre-stressed springs, impact equations and impact laws, linear complementarity, quadratic optimization.

The lecture demonstrates the application of the multi body simulations throughout the development of the railway vehicle. The emphasis of this lecture centres on theory and modelling of the coupling between wheel and rail, vehicle modelling and calculation methods such as stability analysis, curving, running on a track with irregularities, and comfort analyses including the structural dynamics.

Introduction to engineering mechanics: statics and elementary dynamics

Introduction to engineering mechanics: kinematics, statics and dynamics of rigid bodies and systems of rigid bodies.

Contents: structure and use of a commercial multibody dynamics code: modeling with rigid bodies, joints, constraints, force elements, frictional contacts. static and dynamic models, integration of and links to finite element and control models. examples: lever mechanism, trailed wheel, antenna, robot, four-bar mechanism

Selected laboratory experiments in physics, mechanical and process engineering. With the Laboratory Training held during the fifth semester, the students learn how to handle and apply measurement methods and devices. Students are offered a diversified choice of laboratory experiments at least eleven of which must be completed. Five of the chosen experiments must be in physics.

Contents: basic concepts: planar dynamics with (principle of) linear and angular momentum, moment of inertia, kinetic energy. - linear vibration systems: (higher-order) eigenvectors, modal decoupling. - wave equation: normal form, characteristics, reflection.

Interdepartmental (D-MAVT, D-ITET, D-PHYS) seminar series on Mechatronics and Microsystems, focusing on a new specific scope (field of research) each semester.Speakers from industry and research with an excellent international reputation in their field are invited for presentation and discussion.For a detailed program, please refer towww.mechatronics.ethz.ch

Inequality problems in dynamics, in particular friction and impact problems with discontinuities in velocity and acceleration. Mechanical models of unilateral contacts, friction, sprag clutches, pre-stressed springs. Formulation by set-valued maps as linear complementarity problems. Numerical time integration of the combined friction impact contact problem.

Basic facts about nonlinear systems; stability and near-equilibrium dynamics; bifurcations; dynamical systems on the plane; non-autonomous dynamical systems; chaotic dynamics.

Overview of Mechatronics topics and study subjects. Identification of minimum 10 pertinent refereed articles or works in the literature in consultation with supervisor or instructor. After 4 weeks, submission of a 2-page proposal outlining the value, state-of-the art and study plan based on these articles. After feedback on the substance and technical writing by the instructor, project commences.

Overview of Mechatronics topics and study subjects. Identification of minimum 10 pertinent refereed articles or works in the literature in consultation with supervisor or instructor. After 4 weeks, submission of a 2-page proposal outlining the value, state-of-the art and study plan based on these articles. After feedback on the substance and technical writing by the instructor, project commences.

Contents: calculus of variations: brachistochrone, Euler differential equations, natural and free boundary conditions, transversality, Hamilton's principle. - Lagrangian dynamics: virtual work, perfect constraints, principle of d'Alembert Lagrange, Lagrange II, equilibria, linearization. - approximation of dynamic continua: finite differences, weighted residuals, Ritz and Galerkin method.