Simulation of Hydraulic and Pneumatic systems by using MATLAB/Simscape

Abstract

The thesis explore the comparison of pneumatic and hydraulic actuation systems implemented in a DRS system of a Formula 1 modeled in MATLAB/Simscape. Key perfomance metrics such as velocity, acceleration force and pressure are analyzed, which hydraulic system operates at 250 bar while pneumatic operates at 8 bar with both using a single-acting actuator for flap movement. Simulations reveals distinct differences between two systems showing respective advantages and disadvantages for this implementation. Findings indicates that the hydraulic system delivers superior force and speed, while the pneumatic system offers smoother and more controlled actuation. These insights highlight opportunities for optimizing DRS mechanism to meet the required performance required in Formula 1. The thesis establishes a simulation framework that can be helpful for using the MATLAB enviroment and future developed of advance actuation technologies for motorsport applications.