Noise Vehicle Benchmarking Using Source and Path Contribution Methodology and Sound Performance Ranking Tool

Vehicle consumers are becoming more and more insightful and watchful, design alone is not anymore the main factor of differentiation. Generally, they evaluate and compare different models searching for the best cost benefit package, wherein acoustical comfort is an important requirement in the decision. The OEM’s, on the other hand, unceasingly search to identify these requirements so that they`re taken into account in the process of conception of new models. They consider countless information, ranging from the perception of the consumers and information from satisfaction research up to comparative analysis data between competing models (benchmarking), thus defining what’s called targets of the project. In order to realize benchmarking analysis in the NVH field, dozens of operational and laboratory tests are realized, generating hundreds of gigabytes of objective or quantitative data and subjective or qualitative data. The amount and distinct nature of the data complicates the conclusive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, affecting above all the definition of the project objectives. This work presents results based on the utilization of the SPC (Source Path Contribution) method allied with data synthesis proposals to compare and evaluate differences between vehicles A and B from distinct manufacturers. Results are shown from comparatives of contributions, operational forces, sensitivity functions, internal noise and subjective evaluations in a synthetized way that allows the ranking of acoustical performance items of the vehicle, pointing clearly the strengths and weaknesses.