Author(s)

D. Desai, M. Heyns & M. Mbarawa

Abstract

For automotive manufacturers, the simulation of door panel vibration is an important concern for various reasons. A mass of evidence has shown that the vibration behaviour of door panels that enclose the passenger cabin can affect low-frequency noise in the cabin. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that, until now, the characterisation of structure-borne door panel vibration and its subsequent noise emission characteristics in terms of its door hinge system has not yet been contemplated or studied within a vibro-acoustic setting. Thus, the primary contribution of this original work is to develop flexible numerical models with full coupling between the passenger cabin and vehicle body, to predict and improve the vibro-acoustic performance of the door hinge system without the introduction of unique vehicle components. The work undertaken entails the development of three-dimensional, predictive finite element models to address this unique application in terms of noise generation and mitigation. The improvement involves the study of different door hinge systems provoked by an external structural forcing function under steady-state conditions and subjecting them to sensitivity analysis. With reference to an existing door hinge system, frequency domain numerical models are developed and solved employing experimentally-determined damping ratios. An experimental campaign is undertaken to validate the numerical models based on frequency response data. The measured data were compared with the predicted values, the results of which exhibited good correlation. Compared to the reference design, a significant reduction in the interior noise level was achieved by using the proposed sensitivity analysis procedure. Keywords: fluid-structure interaction, NVH, automotive interior noise.

Keywords

fluid-structure interaction, NVH, automotive interior noise