The correct quantification of airborne sources and their transfer to the vehicle interior noise enables vehicle manufacturers to set system targets and to assess interior noise effects of new or modified systems. Measurements on complete vehicles and on test-beds for body, engine, exhaust, tire, HVAC etc. can then be used to estimate interior noise contributions and choose an optimal level of solutions.
This study addresses exhaust tailpipe airborne noise emission in a highly controlled situation; indoors and with an exhaust simulator. Two methods of characterization are compared. One method uses the sound pressure very close to the active source as a source strength combined with pressure transmissibility to estimate the interior noise contributions. The other method uses an inverse estimate of the source volume acceleration and the pressure over volume acceleration transfer for the same purpose.
The methods of airborne contribution analysis are briefly described. The observed differences between the contribution estimation and the actual measured contribution are discussed. And, as an example the effect of changing the exhaust tailpipe location on the vehicle on the source strength, transfer/transmissibility and interior noise is shown.