Reliability and testing strategies in technical design: A case study of optimization and simulation

Our research group integrating knowledge coming from different fields as aeronautical, mechanical and computer science engineering developed a new methodology to design electromechanical systems saving time and money. By means of an accurate analysis of the design techniques usually adopted, we conceived a seven step design strategy and in the paper we present a particular step of this process applied to a case study we solved with this new methodology. In particular the paper presents in detail two different brake caliper models, each having a well-defined purpose. It is illustrated the experimental validation we did in order to get the best optimization of the system. So described models are useful to design the brake caliper and evaluate its effect on the whole brake system in a cheap and fast way, saving money and achieving the target of guaranteeing reliability standard.