Applied Mechanics in Motion

Interactive simulations for the course Meccanica Applicata alle Macchine (Applied Mechanics in Machine Design), Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Università di Pisa.

Browser-based simulations for nonlinear dynamics and applied mechanics. Click any card to open the simulator directly — no installation required.

Simple Pendulum

Pendulum animation comparing nonlinear and linearized dynamics. Time evolution, potential energy curve, and phase portrait.

Damped Pendulum

Pendulum animation with adjustable damping. Explore how energy dissipation reshapes the transient response and phase portrait.

Van der Pol Oscillator

Simple nonlinear oscillator showing a stable limit cycle.

Time-Reversed Van der Pol Oscillator

Simple nonlinear oscillator showing an unstable limit cycle.

Double slider crank chain

Two masses on perpendicular guides linked by a rod, with spring and damper. Dynamics and phase portraits with different parametrizations.

2-DOF oscillations

Oscillating system with two degrees of freedom: dynamics and phase-space projections.

3-DOF oscillations

Oscillating system with three degrees of freedom: linearized dynamics.

Mass on Oscillating Platform

Mass-spring-damper system with platform motion. Dynamic Amplification Factor and Phase for absolute and relative motion.

2-DOF oscillations BETA

T-shape with disk. Coupled/decoupled 2-DOF dynamics depending on parameters.

Stick–slip

Mass–spring on a moving belt with friction.

Clutch break-in

How a brand-new clutch evolves toward a run-in state: pressure profile and wear-rate analysis.

T-rod with imposed displacement BETA

T-rod driven by slider-crank.

Ring with friction — Part 1

Exercise 8.21 — GeoGebra worksheet: ring with distributed friction on the rim (opens in a new tab).

Ring with friction — Part 2

Exercise 8.22 — motion of a ring with friction.

Rotating cylinder on supports

Exercise 8.20 — GeoGebra worksheet: graphical solution (opens in a new tab).

Highway curves

Clothoid arcs. Speed, lateral acceleration and jerk profile for road cars.

Circuit curves

Clothoid arcs. Speed, lateral acceleration and jerk profile for racing cars.

Exponential Slider bearing

Application of Reynolds Equation for thin film lubrications.

Step Slider bearing

Application of Reynolds Equation for thin film lubrications.

Degree of irregularity

Plate on an eccentric disk.

What I cannot create, I do not understand. — Richard Feynman