Correlation of CAE Models to Prototype Tests For Transmission Gear Whine Assessment

Recent advances in Automatic Transmission Engineering Organization (ATEO) at Ford Motor Company have integrated CAE gear whine analysis into the transmission design process. Detailed models can be developed to predict radiated noise under many types of loading conditions, including dynamic mesh force excitation. Often correlating the analytical FRFs with the results obtained from testing a prototype validates the analytical model and its assumptions. The evaluation and determination of correct and appropriate CAE properties can be extremely difficult for even the experienced design engineer. This paper discusses the application of structural optimization techniques to the assumed material properties and model parameters to minimize the difference between the analytical results and test data over a large frequency range. In the procedure the material properties and the model parameters are manually and automatically updated until the analytical results have a best-fit match to the test data.