Com'è fluida Reggio Emilia Esperti e ricercatori della oleodinamica da tutto il mondo in arrivo nella città del Tricolore. Per quattro giorni all'università un congresso internazionale che manca dall'Italia da dodici anni

1. FINAL PROGRAMME

2. Dear Madam or Sir,
On the behalf of Fluid Power Net International, it is a real pleasure to invite you to
the 7th FPNI PhD Symposium which will be held at “Pietro Manodori” Auditorium
in Reggio Emilia, from Wednesday June 27 to Saturday June 30, 2012.
FPNI is a worldwide community for networking in the area of fluid power and
fluid techniques, whose general objectives are to promote international research
cooperation and engineering education in the field of fluid power technology and
related areas, and to provide information about worldwide research and industrial
activities in the field of fluid power technology.
The Symposium will provide a forum for scientists coming both from academia
and industry to exchange ideas and opinions on current research and on future
developments in fluid power technology.
All Young Researchers and PhD Students around the world interested in Fluid
Power are invited to present the results and the directions of their scientific
activities, establishing new contacts for a broader R&D cooperation in fluid power
technology and its related fields.
We would like to send a warm welcome your way to participate in the 7th FPNI.
We are truly looking forward to your visit as well as the interesting discussions
and valuable contributions, and would like to wish you a wonderful stay in Reggio
Emilia.
Dr.-Ing. R. Rahmfeld - Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Milani - Prof. Dr. B. Manhartsgruber
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

3. Registration Information
Dear Colleagues, Dear Authors, Dear FPNI Members,
on the behalf of the Fluid Power Net International, it’s our pleasure to inform you
that the registration web-site for the FPNI 2012 PhD Symposium on Fluid Power is
available at the address:
www.jku.at/conferences/fpniphd2012
You’ll find a link “Proceed to Registration” which opens the following screen where
you’ll make your choice:
The fees are taxes included.
The registration fee covers the admission to all conference functions, the procee-
dings (not included in “Accompanying persons” fee), welcome reception, confe-
rence dinners, refreshments and lunches on all three days.
Hereinafter, you’ll find the Final Programme, including general information about
conference venue, evening events, accommodation and cultural programme for
accompanying persons.
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

4. Final programme
TUESDAY, June 26, 2012
16.30 - 18.00 REGISTRATION & WELCOME REFRESHMENT
WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2012
8.00 REGISTRATION
9.00 WELCOME CEREMONY
Aldo Tomasi – Rector of the University of Modena & Reggio Emilia
Graziano Del Rio – Reggio Emilia City Major
Sonia Masini – Reggio Emilia Province President
Aimone Storchi – Reggio Emilia Innovazione President
9.45 INTRODUCTION TO FPNI12
Robert Rahmfeld – FPNI Head of the Board and Industrial Representative
Roberto Paoluzzi – Scientific Coordinator of the 7th FPNI PhD Symposium
Massimo Milani – Chairman of the 7th FPNI PhD Symposium
10.30 OPENING KEYNOTE
How to grow (old) with Fluid Power
Gianluca Zarotti – IMAMOTER CNR, Italy
11.00 COFFEE BREAK
11.20 HYDRAULIC PUMPS & MOTORS – 1
Chaired by MONIKA IVANTYSYNOVA
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
11.20 Fundamentals of designing the internal involute gearing pumps
D. Słodczyk, J. Stryczek - Institute of Machine Design and Operation,
Wroclaw University of Technology , Poland
11.45 Simulation based optimization methodology of port plates for
roller pumps
P. Zavadinka, R. Grepl
Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics, Brno
University of Technology , Czech Republic
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

5. 12.10 Experimental analysis of the operating conditions influence on
an annular gear motor deformation
F. Franzoni, A. Sassi, R. Fornaciari
Brevini Fluid Power SpA, Reggio Emilia – Italy
12.35 Study of the effective port areas in a trochoidal gear pump
M. Garcia-Vilchez, P.J. Gamez-Montero, E. Codina Macià
Department of Fluid Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
13.00 LUNCH
14.00 DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS – 1
Chaired by ANDREA VACCA
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University,
Indiana, USA
14.00 Instrumented IVT for instruction
J. J. Heber , D. Buckmaster
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University,
Indiana, USA
14.25 Design, analysis and control of hydraulic soft yaw system for a 5
MW wind turbine
S. Stubkier , H. C. Pedersen - Hydratech-Industries Wind Power ,
Denmark - Institute of Energy Technology , Aalborg University, Denmark
14.50 Power management in a mobile work machine: reduced diesel
rpm for better energy efficiency
M. Ahopelto , J. Backas, K. Huhtala
Department of Intelligent Hydraulics and Automation, Tampere University
of Technology, Finland
15.15 Study on advantages of using load sensing system in burden
feeder’s hydraulic power unit of direct reduction furnace
M. Yahyaei, N. Pouladi, E. Sanei, M. Mousavi,
Hydraulic Karan Co, Iran & Bita Innovative Design Co, Iran
15.40 Modeling and verification of an excavator system – axial piston
pump, kinematics and prime mover models
A.Alvin, A. Ottola, P. Casoli, C. Dolcin, A. Lettini
Industrial Engineering Department, University of Parma, Italy
Casappa S.p.A., Italy & Walvoil S.p.A., Italy
16.05 COFFEE BREAK
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

6. 16.30 ICT IN FLUID POWER – 1
Chaired by HEIKKI HANDROOS
Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, Faculty of Technology, Lappeenranta
University of Technology LUT , Finland
16.30 Novel haptic methods in a teleoperation system of a hydraulic slider
H.Roozbahani, H. Handroos
Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, Faculty of Technology, Lappeenranta
University of Technology LUT , Lappeenranta - Finland
16.55 A real-time wireless protocol proposal for remote agricultural
machine control
M. Dian, G. Malaguti, M. Ruggeri
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines, IMAMOTER CNR, Italy
17.20 Virtual environment for investigating Human Machine Interface in
machines with hydraulic transmissions
J. E. Heikkinen, L. Luostarinen, H. Handroos
Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, CEID, Lappeenranta University of
Technology, Finland
17.45 Digital hydraulic cylinder drive for folding cargo hatches
S. Westerlund, E. Mäkinen
Department of Intelligent Hydraulics and Automation – Rauma Research
Unit, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
18.10 Real time distributed control on machines over quasi
deterministic ethernet
G. Malaguti, M. Dian, M. Ruggeri
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines, IMAMOTER CNR, Italy
Casappa / Walvoil Welcome Event
20.00 Experience Walvoil test department - Aperitive and guided visit
21.00 ‘Barbeque dinner’ at ‘Giustospirito’ restaurant
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

7. THURSDAY, June 28, 2012
8.30 DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS – 2
Chaired by BERNHARD MANHARTSGRUBER
Institute of Machine Design and Hydraulic Drives, Johannes Kepler
University Linz, Austria
8.30 Numerical analysis of different thermo-pneumatic layouts for
coffee roasting plants
D. Bottazzi, M. Milani, L. Montorsi
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
8.55 Thermo-fluid dynamics analysis of different layouts of a
cogeneration system based on aluminum/water combustion
S. Mercati, M. Milani, L. Montorsi
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
9.20 Optimal number of pressure lines in a discrete hydraulic force
system for the PTO-system in wave energy converters
A. Hedegaard Hansen, H. C. Pedersen, R. Hjerm Hansen
Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark
9.45 Hydraulic model of a common rail fuel pump for the co-
simulation of multibody and hydraulic systems
J. Ewald, H. Murrenhoff
Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls IFAS, RWTH Aachen
University, Germany
10.10 Integration of computational environment and CAD system for
hydraulic crane simulation
T. Czyzewski, E. Lisowski
Department for Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Applied Informatics
Cracow University of Technology, Poland
10.35 COFFEE BREAK
11.00 FLUID POWER DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS – 1
Chaired by EUGENIO DRAGONI
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

8. 11.00 Experimental investigation of measuring fluid bulk modulus in
low pressure regions
H.Gholizadeh, R.Burton, G.Schoenau, Doug Bitner
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan,
Canada
11.25 Capacitance health sensing in fluid power components
B. Newell, G.Krutz, T. Gallien, Z. Holland, K. Harmeyer, M. Holland, A. Brune
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University,
Indiana, USA
11.45 Adiabatic and isothermal fluid bulk modulus – common theories
and model verification
R. Haas, A. Tairych, B. Manhartsgruber
Institute of Machine Design and Hydraulic, Johannes Kepler
University Linz, Austria
12.10 Influence of the termination impedance characteristics on
standing waves of pressure pulsation in straight fluid line
T. Kuribayashi, T. Ichiyanagi, T. Nishiumi
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, National Defense
Academy, Japan
12.35 Development of a driveshaft torque transducer and a ball joint
wear sensor for low-cost structural health monitoring of off-
highway vehicles
D. Castagnetti, A. Spaggiari, A. Lesnjanin, L. Fornari, M. Arduini, G.
Gualdi, E. Dragoni, A. Brunazzi
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
Ognibene S.p.A., Italy & Comer Industries S.p.A, Italy
13.10 LUNCH
14.00 DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS – 3
Chaired by Andrzej Sobczyk
Institute of Machine Design
Cracow University of Technology, Poland
14.00 Conceptual evaluation of closed-centre steering gears in road
vehicles
A. Dell’Amico, J. Pohl, P. Krus - Department of Management and
Engineering, Linköping University, Sweden
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

9. 14.25 Cooling power reduction of displacement controlled multi-
actuator machines
E.Busquets , M. Ivantysynova - Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Purdue University, Indiana, USA
14.50 Adaptive vibration damping method for hydraulic machines: the
case of a hydraulic crane
D. Cristofori, A. Vacca - Department of Agricultural & Biological
Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
15.15 Fluid power supply unit for agricultural tractors: towards energy
saving through simulation
F. Pintore, B. Zardin, M. Borghi
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, University of Modena &
Reggio Emilia, Italy
15.40 Energy saving system architecture for hydraulic hybrid off-
highway vehicles
M. Sprengel , M. Ivantysynova
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
16.05 COFFEE BREAK
16.30 HYDRAULIC PUMPS & MOTORS – 2
Chaired by Rudolf Scheidl
Institute of Machine Design and Hydraulic Drives, Johannes
Kepler University Linz, Austria
16.30 Analytical model of a slipper behavior under specific boundary
conditions and its experimental validation
A. Lucchi, A. Sassi, D. Gambuzzi
Brevini Fluid Power S.p.A., Italy
16.55 Valve plate optimization focusing on noise reduction in the axial
piston machine with high volumetric efficiency
D. Kim, M. Ivantysynova
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
17.20 An investigation of the impact of micro surface shaping on the
cylinder block/valve plate inter-face performance through a novel
thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic model
M. Zecchi, M. Ivantysynova
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
17.45 The influence of swashplate elastohydrodynamic deformation in
the slipper-swashplate interface
A. Schenk, M. Ivantysynova
School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
20.00 Gala Dinner at Golf Club Matilde di Canossa.
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

10. FRIDAY, June 29, 2012
8.30 FLUID POWER DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS – 2
Chaired by TAKAO NISHIUMI
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, National Defense
Academy, Japan
8.30 Efficiency optimization of a hydrostatic system using an
intermediate pressure line
P. Dengler, R. Von Dombrowski
Chair of Mobile Machines, Karlsruhe Institute of Technolog, Germany
FLUIDON GmbH, Germany
8.55 The role of compliance in devices for reduction of fluid-borne
noise
N. E. Earnhart, K. A. Marek, K. A. Cunefare
G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of
Technology, Georgia, USA
9.20 Energy efficiency on high pressure pneumatic circuits
J. Trujillo
Department of Fluid Mechanics, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya,
Spain
9.45 CFD optimisation of a cyclone solid-gas separator
P. A. Bertacche, A. Bonanno
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines, IMAMOTER CNR,
Italy
10.10 Structural finite element analysis of fluid power components: a
comparison of fatigue life prediction methods
A.Spaggiari, D.Castagnetti, E.Dragoni, S.Bulleri
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
Galtech S.r.l., Italy
10.35 COFFEE BREAK
11.00 ICT IN FLUID POWER – 2
Chaired by ROBERTO PAOLUZZI
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines, IMAMOTER CNR,
Italy
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

11. 11.00 Comparative analysis on the main architectures for hydraulic
mobile machines
S. Gessi, M. Martelli
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines, IMAMOTER CNR, Italy
11.25 Robust adaptive control of a hydraulic servo system by utilizing
real-time simulation
H.Roozbahani, H. Handroos, H. Wu
Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, Faculty of Technology, Lappeenranta
University of Technology LUT , Finland
11.45 Isobus over ethernet: a first implementation
C. Ferraresi, M. Dian, G. Malaguti, M. Ruggeri
Institute of Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines
IMAMOTER CNR, Italy
12.10 Tool point tracking for redundant hydraulic actuated manipulator
using velocity control
M. B. Kjelland, M. R. Hansen
Department of Engineering, University of Agder, Norway
12.35 Test rig for integrated hydraulic-electric power transmission with
real-time simulated loads
R. Åman, H. Handroos, J. Wilenius, P. Ponomarev
Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, Faculty of Technology,
Lappeenranta University of Technology LUT , Finland
13.10 LUNCH
14.20 HYDRAULIC PUMPS & MOTORS – 3
Chaired by MASSIMO BORGHI
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, University of Modena &
Reggio Emilia, Italy
14.20 Mathematical modeling and experimental verification of pressure
change in the operating chamber of vane pump with double effect
N. Todic, R. Petrovic, A. Banaszek
College of Applied Engineering, Serbia
Technical University of Szczecin, Poland
14.45 Dry case operation for bent-axis motors efficiency potential and
tank design
J. Untch, T. Dopichay, T. Lang, R. Rahmfeld, S. Marsch, W. Göllner
Institute of Agricultural Machinery and Fluid Power, Technische
Universität Braunschweig Braunschweing, Germany
Sauer-Danfoss, Germany
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

12. 15.05 A novel elastohydrodynamic model for the lubricating gaps in
external gear machines: evaluation of axial balance
S. Dhar, A. Vacca, A.Lettini
Maha Fluid Power Research Center, Purdue University, Indiana,
Casappa SpA, Italy
15.30 A simulation study of valve timing problems of an electrically
actuated high frequency oscillating pump
E.Leati, A. Plöckinger, R. Scheidl
Institute of Machine Design and Hydraulic Drives, Johannes Kepler
University Linz, Austria
15.50 COFFEE BREAK
16.15 DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS – 4
Chaired byEsteban CODINA MACIÀ
Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeries Industrial i Aeronàutica
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
16.15 Electrohydraulic compact-drives for low power applications
considering energy-efficiency and high inertial loads
S. Michel, J. Weber
Institute of Fluid Power IFD, Technische Universität Dresden,Dresden -
Germany
16.40 Modeling, performance testing and parameter identification of
pressure compensated proportional directional control valves
M. K. Bak, M. R. Hansen
Department of Engineering, University of Agder, Grimstad - Norway
17.05 Independent metering architectures for agricultural tractors
auxiliary utilities
A. Benevelli, B. Zardin, M. Borghi
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering DIMEC, University of
Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy
17.30 Electro-hydraulic energy-saving power steering systems of the
future
N. Daher , M. Ivantysynova
Purdue University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Indiana, USA
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

13. 17.55 Development of a semi-empirical model of electro-hydraulic
spool positioning systems for load sensing flow sharing main
valves
C. Dolcin, F. Ferretti, C. Striegan, M. Scolari
Walvoil S.p.A.- Test Department, Reggio Emilia – Italy
Fer Hydraulik S.r.l. Italy
FH-Aachen – Aeronautical & Astronautic Engineering, Aachen - Germany
18.20 New approach in simulation of water turbine guide apparatus
control system
P. Walczak, A. Sobczyk
Institute of Machine Design, Cracow University of Technology, Krakow -
Poland
19.30 THE CARMINA BURANA
Performed by The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Chorus
Cavallerizza Theatre, Reggio Emilia.
21.00 AWARDS CEREMONY AND CLOSING DINNER AT
FILIPPINI’S.
SATURDAY, June 30, 2012
9.00 – 11.30 FPNI Board
11.30 – 12.30 GOODBYE LUNCH
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

14. Conference Venue
“Pietro Manodori” Auditorium,
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,
Viale Allegri 9, 42121 - Reggio Emilia, Italy
Accommodation
Participants are requested to make their own arrangement for accommodation,
directly at the hotels with special prices for FPNI attendees (please mention the
University of Modena & Reggio Emilia when reserving) or a hotel/accommodation
of your choice. Below are recommended hotels/accommodations suited nearby
the conference venue.
Travel and accommodation costs have to be paid individually and are not included
in the conference fee.
HOTEL POSTA **** HOTEL ASTORIA ****
Piazza del Monte, 2 Viale Leopoldo Nobili, 2
42121, Reggio Emilia, Italy 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Tel. +39 0522 432944 Tel. +39 0522 435245
Fax +39 0522 452602 ALBERGO REGGIO *** HOTEL MORANDI ***
Via San Giuseppe, 7 Via Emilia S.Pietro, 64 - Fax +39 0522 453365
booking@hotelposta.re.it prenotazioni@mercurehotelastoria.com
www.hotelposta.re.it 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Tel. +39. 0522. 451533 Tel.+ 39 0522 454397 www.mercurehotelastoria.com
Fax +39.0522.452602 Fax +39 0522 452570
info@albergoreggio.it info@albergomorandi.com
www.albergoreggio.it www.albergomorandi.com
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

15. Cultural Programme
for Accompanying Person
The cultural programme, which is still to be confirmed, requires registration (mini-
mum number of participants must be met).
WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2012
Discovering Reggio Emilia
Tricolore Room / Tricolore Museum / Basilica of Saint Prospero / Magnani Palace
In the morning, a short shuttle bus ride will take you from the “Pietro Manodori”
Auditorium to the Tricolore Room and the Tricolore Museum.
For those who love the Tricolor and all that it has repre-
sented in the modern history of the Italian country, the
Tricolore Room in Reggio Emilia will become a manda-
tory destination. A visit to the Tricolore Room and the
annex Tricolore Museum is absolutely necessary for dis-
covering the true spirit of the city, a rebellious side that
fought to rid itself of ancient servitude and to gain con-
trol of its future, a future of freedom and equality.
The Italian flag was created in Reggio Emilia on Janu-
ary 7, 1797. That day, representatives from the four cities
of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara met in
a Congress proposed by Giuseppe Compagnoni, and
they officially adopted the red, white and green tricolor
as the national banner of the Cispadane Republic, the new state created under the
protection of the French army.
This historic meeting took place inside the Municipal Palace, in the great room with
splendid neoclassical architecture, which was built between 1772 and 1787, following
a plan by Lodovico Bolognini, to house the general archives of the Duchy.
Later the great room would be named the Congress Room and then the Tricolore
Room. Now it is the headquarters of the Municipal Board and of the most important
civil events of the city.
Near the historic Room, the Tricolore Muse-
um documents with innovative historiographi-
cal criteria the historical and political context
in which the Italian flag came to be. Along with
historic documents, there are also modern au-
dio-visual instruments which make reading the
documents easier.
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

16. The exhibition on the Risorgimento in Italy has two parallel themes: the history of the
national flag, from its origins to the independence and unification of the country, and
the history of the political happenings in Reggio Emilia, from the creation of the Reg-
giana Republic in 1796 to the documentation of the aid offered by Reggio Emilia’s
people in the battle for national liberation.
“Reggio Emilia today is not only the Capital of the Tricolor, but also a vital central
part – through conviction and passion – of the effort to reinforce and re-launch the
historic heritage of national Unity”. (G. Napolitano – January 7, 2011 – during the
150th celebration of Italy’s Unification).
In the afternoon, we will visit the Basilica of Saint Pros-
pero, an ancient church consecrated in 997 and dedi-
cated to Bishop Prospero, proclaimed Holy Protector
of the town. It was completely rebuilt in the 15th cen-
tury and the façade dates back to the 17th century. The
Basilica and tower of San Prospero form an extraordi-
nary scenic background when entering the town’s most
characteristic square where the traditional market takes
place (Tuesday and Friday in the morning). When filled
with stalls the space enclosed between the Cathedral
apse, and the façades and arcades of sober palaces are
brought alive. The interior of the Basilica is arranged in
three naves in a Latin cross with
a large dome. In the absidal bowl-shaped vault you can see
the series of frescoes by Camillo Procaccini (artist from Bolo-
gna) depicting the “Last Judgement”. With its refined crafts-
manship, the valuable wooden choir stall (by the De Venetiis
brothers in 1546), inlaid with country scenes, still lifes, city
scenes, constitutes a masterpiece in the art of inlaying and
marquetry which developed in Reggio Emilia from the mid-
dle of the 1400s. Six large columniferous lions from the be-
ginning of the 1500s decorate the parvis, forming a valuable
single group; they are attributed to Gaspare Bigi.
And then, a visit to the Magnani Palace, today seat of ex-
hibitions and events, where you can see a Reggio landmark,
a Renaissance sculpture of two-faced Janus, looking in the
past and future from his post on a corner of a palace.
Meeting Point:
8.30, foyer of the “Pietro Manodori” Auditorium
Lunch:
13.00 - 14.00, foyer “Pietro Manodori” Auditorium
Returning: 17.00
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

17. THURSDAY, June 28, 2012
Matilde of Canossa’s Lands
Bismantova Stone / Canossa Castle / Bianello Castle
Departure for the municipality of Castelnuovo ne’
Monti where you will be welcomed by the incred-
ible Bismantova Stone, a single block of sand-
stone with a flat top and sheer sides smoothed by
30 million years of erosion, mentioned by Dante
Alighieri in the 4th Canto of the Purgatory. Just
over 1000 meters in height, the Stone seems im-
possible to climb but is in fact the favorite training
ground of Emilia’s mountain climbers, so path and
many rock-climbing routes run through it.
Then we carry on with a visit to the Canossa cas-
tle, one of the main fortresses of Countess Ma-
tilde’s defensive system. Canossa has been the
scene of a particularly memorable medieval epi-
sode, the meeting between Pope Gregory VII and
the emperor Henry IV at the castle of the countess
Matilde. All that remains of the castle is a tower
and the crypt of the fifteenth-century temple of
Sant’Apollonio. Yet the few ruins clinging to a
white rock remain a precious piece of the past and provide a plausible setting for the
historic episode.
Coming back to Reggio Emilia, stop in Quattro
Castella. Forming an incredible natural setting,
Mounts Zane, Lucio, Bianello and Vetro, all more
or less the same height. On the four heights the
Canossa family built as many fortresses starting
from the 10th century – three of them are ruins,
while Bianello Castle still exists in its seventeenth-
century form of an aristocratic residence.
Bianello, one of Matilde’s favorite residences, was
the place where she received the investiture of the imperial vicar in 1111 – her coro-
nation is marked by a magnificent commemoration of the historical event in which
600 walk-ons in medieval costumes take part, that takes place every years the last
Sunday of May.
Meeting Point: 8.30, foyer of the “Pietro Manodori” Auditorium.
Lunch at “La Lanterna”
Returning: 17.30
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

18. FRIDAY, June 29, 2012
Visiting Mantua and Sigurtà Gardens
The Ducal Palace / The Te Palace / Sigurtà Gardens
The morning is dedicated to the discovery of
Mantua. We begin by visiting the Ducal Palace,
the main residence of the Gonzaga family, lords,
marquises and finally Dukes of the city. The palace
was built between the 14th and the 17th century
mainly by the noble family of Gonzaga as their
royal residence in the capital of their Duchy. The
buildings are connected by corridors and galler-
ies and are enriched by inner courts and wide
gardens. The complex includes some 500 rooms
and occupies an area of c. 34,000 m². Although
most famous for Mantegna’s frescos in the Cam-
era degli Sposi (Wedding Room), they have many other very significant architectural
and painted elements.
The Gonzaga family lived in the palace from 1328
to 1707, when the dynasty died out. Subsequently,
the buildings saw a sharp decline, which was halt-
ed in the 20th century with a continuing process
of restoration and the designation of the area as
museum. In 1998, a hidden room was discovered
by Palace scholars, led by musicologist Paula Bez-
zutti. The room is thought to have been used for
performances of Monteverdi’s music in the late
16th century.
Then, we move on to one of the most beautiful villas in Italy and a masterpiece of
the Mannerism: the Te Palace, a square building, constructed by Giulio Romano
between 1525 and 1535, as a suburban residence for Federico II Gonzaga.
The four exterior façades have flat pilasters against rusticated walls, the fenestration
indicating that the piano nobile is on the ground floor with a secondary floor above.
The East façade differs from the other three by having Palladian motifs on its pilaster
and an open loggia at its centre rather than an arch to the courtyard. The facades are
not as symmetrical as they appear, and the spans
between the columns are irregular. The centre of
the North and South facades are pierced by two-
storey arches without portico or pediment, simply
a covered way leading to the interior courtyard.
Few windows overlook the inner courtyard
(“cortile”); the colonnaded walls are decorated on
all sides by deep niches and blind windows, and
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER

19. the intervening surfaces are spattered by ‘spezzato’
(broken and blemished plaster) giving life and depth
to the surfaces.
Once the shell of the building was completed, for ten
years a team of plasterers, carvers and fresco painters
labored, until barely a surface in any of the loggias or
salons remained undecorated. Under Giulio Romano’s
direction, local decorative painters such as Benedetto
Pagni and Rinaldo Mantovano worked extensively on
the frescos. These frescoes remain today and are the
most remarkable feature of the Palazzo. The subjects
range from Olympian banquets in the Room of Psyche
and stylized horses in the Horses salon to the most unu-
sual of all — giants and grotesques wreaking havoc, fury and ruin around the walls
of the Giant’s Room.
In the afternoon, visit of one of the most beautiful
gardens in the world: the Sigurtà Gardens that
extend over 125 acres at the edge of the moraine
hills that form the southern border of the Garda
Lake, just 8 kilometers from the town of Peschiera.
They began life as the “brolo” or walled garden
(1617) of the Villa Maffei, designed by V. Pellesina,
a student of Palladio, and in 1859 became for a
time the headquarters of Napoleon III.
Through over forty years of loving care, Carlo
Sigurtà, benefiting from an ancient right to draw
water from the river Mincio below, performed the
miracle of turning an arid hillside into luxurious
greenery.
The plans for the existing park where then laid
down by his grandson Enzo Sigurtà.
The park and gardens opened their gates to the
public in 1978 and from then its conservation has
been due in great part to the love of its visitors
who have found it to be a true temple to nature itself.
The Sigurtà Gardens are now considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the
world and they can be toured on foot, by bike, or aboard the panoramic train which
transports passengers along the 7km long “Itinerario degli Incanti” route.
Meeting Point: 8.30, foyer of the “Pietro Manodori” Auditorium.
Lunch at “Masseria Restaurant”
Returning: 17.30-18.00
7th FPNI PhD SYMPOSIUM on FLUID POWER