Assoc. Prof. MEHMET MURAT TOPAÇ

M.M. Topaç is a senior researcher in automotive engineering at Dokuz Eylül University Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Since 2003, he has served as a project director, designer, technical consultant and instructor for the automotive and defence industries.

He has provided engineering services to the automotive and defence industries through numerous university-industry collaboration-based projects related to design and optimisation of suspensions, steering systems, powertrain, chassis, body and the other mechanical subsystems of wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Moreover, he is investigating the effects of the design parameters of suspension and steering systems on handling behaviour and dynamics of wheeled and tracked land vehicles.

He is also interested in shape/topology optimisation-based lightweight design and failure analysis applications in vehicle engineering.

Main research topics:

• Vehicle engineering / Automotive systems,
• Vehicle theory,
• Chassis systems engineering:
° Wheeled and tracked land vehicles,
° Ground vehicle dynamics,
° Vehicle suspensions, axle systems & steering,
° Vehicle design,
° Failure analysis and prevention in vehicle design,
° Vehicle structures,
° Engine / powertrain-drivetrain design,
° Applied optimisation and lightweight design in vehicle engineering,
• Defence engineering,
• Construction machinery,
• Electromobility,
• Mechanical engineering design.

Current research interests:

• Chassis systems design for special purpose vehicles: multi-axle land platforms, heavy-duty commercial vehicles, articulated vehicles / trailers, tracked vehicles,
• Mobility,
• Alternative urban transportation: design of electric vehicles / urban electric microcars,
• Failure analysis and optimal design of vehicle components, subsystems and structures,
• Dynamics of special purpose land vehicles,
• Modelling, design, optimisation and manufacturing of vehicle suspensions, axle systems and steering systems (including multi-axle steering systems for special purpose land vehicles and trailers),
• Design and optimisation of chassis and vehicle body structure,
• Engine and powertrain design for special purpose land vehicles.