60 Second Spotlight on Stratos Stratoudakis, HORIBA MIRA
Ahead of the Tyre Testing & Modelling Seminar taking place on 20 March at HORIBA MIRA we caught up with Stratos Stratoudakis to hear his thoughts on the topic.
Briefly explain your current role.
I’m a Consultant Engineer for multi-body simulation at HORIBA MIRA. I help start-ups and established OEMs develop chassis and suspension systems that meet performance targets, using both offline and driver-in-the-loop simulation methods.
Why do you believe tyre modelling is critical for automotive innovation today?
Today’s shift towards virtual development means having a good representation of the tyre early on helps us create more refined vehicles faster.
What is the most exciting development or trend in your area of tyre research or testing?
Real-time simulation, especially driver-in-the-loop systems like the DiM250 we have at MIRA, stands out. It enables us to subjectively test a vehicle without a physical prototype, speeding up development and refining the final product.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in tyre modelling and simulation?
Tyres behave differently under changes in temperature, pressure, load, and road texture. While we understand these phenomena creating a single model which is valid for different purposes (dynamics, durability, NVH) and replicates them within practical input data and simulation time remains a challenge.
How do you see tyre modelling evolving over the next 10 years?
While some tyre models take an analytical approach with physically meaningful parameters, they all still depend on physical measurements to some extent. AI-driven predictive modelling will enhance this by identifying trends from existing tyres, enabling the creation of accurate models with less dependency on physical testing.
How does sustainability influence your work or research in tyre testing and modelling?
There’s an increasing demand for simulation activities as it reduces physical testing, cutting waste and energy consumption during the development phase.
How important is collaboration between academia and industry in advancing tyre technology?
It’s crucial, universities provide fresh ideas and in-depth research, while industry offers real-world requirements and resources. Working together gets innovation out of the lab and onto the road faster.