Minimize Driveline Gear Noise by Optimization Technique

Driveline NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) has always been a critical issue in overall vehicle NVH design. For years, numerous efforts have been made in NVH reduction. This study focuses on the development of an optimization process for driveline system NVH design. Specifically, minimization of driveline dynamic gear meshing force was performed using commercial softwares Genesis (VR&D Engineering) and IDEAS (EDS). The optimization process includes design variable selection, problem formulation and optimization algorithm selection. The developed optimization process was applied to a driveline system design with a two-piece driveshaft and independent rear suspension axle, which includes more than 40 design variables simultaneously. Results show success of driveline NVH optimization for up-front driveline NVH design, as well as great potential for developing a vehicle NVH optimization method using hybrid-modeling technology.