Car journeys will become even smoother and quieter as a result of major new research which aims to cut noise and vibration in the next generation of vehicles.
Scientists at Nottingham Trent University are leading a €1.9 million study to develop software which would enable car manufacturers to accurately predict how a new model would respond to high levels of structural vibration caused by air resistance.
This would allow them to identify any unwanted noises and address them at the design stage, dramatically cutting costs by removing the need to develop an expensive physical prototype.
Controlling and minimising vibration and shaking would give manufacturers a crucial and competitive advantage in the drive for lower noise pollution levels and enhanced driver and passenger comfort. Avoiding high levels of vibration would also work to reduce wear and tear on the vehicle, saving motorists in repair costs.
The four year European Union funded project also involves researchers from the University of Nottingham, University of Southampton and Jaguar Land Rover, along with specialist German SMEs inuTech GmbH and CDH AG.
The aim is to create the first ever simulation tool which would model the precise structural vibrations of a vehicle over the whole range of frequencies audible to humans.
The researchers hope to be able to provide a robust and detailed analysis of any vehicle’s vibrations on a very fine scale, taking into account the materials and intricate couplings between different components.
This simulation would be implemented into the existing computer aided engineering toolkit, used by the automotive industry to reduce development time and cost, while improving safety, comfort and durability of vehicles.
Engineers would enter the model’s parameters into the system to see a detailed visualisation of the car they are modelling – they could then see how the vibration levels would affect the vehicle.
“Noise and vibration issues can seriously detract from the reputation of a vehicle, with a knock-on detrimental effect for the entire brand,” said Dr David Chappell, a researcher in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology.
He said: “Noise and vibration differs greatly vehicle-to-vehicle at high frequencies, but this modelling technique would be indispensable for manufacturers, with tightening legal regulations around noise pollution. The new technique has the potential to reduce costs by identifying vibration issues at the virtual design stage. Motorists and their passengers would also reap major benefits, with improved journey comfort.”
The work is being funded by the European Commission’s FP7 People Specific Programme, Marie Curie Actions.
