A Method and Apparatus for Generating Full Vehicle Roof System Rain Noise for the Purpose of Development, Benchmarking and Interior Noise Performance Measurement

The direct excitation of a vehicle roof system by a repeatable method and the corresponding interior sound pressure level generated by that excitation can be a key characteristic of the total interior acoustic signature of a vehicle. After nine years of work and five design iterations, a test method and apparatus has been developed that exposes a vehicle to a repeatable and measurable artificial rain excitation. The test apparatus, method and performance data are reviewed. Performance data is shown for several different vehicles and roof systems.