Transfer path analysis is a powerful tool to support the vehicle NVH development. On the one hand it is a fast method to gain an overview of the complex interplay in the vehicle noise generation process. On the other hand it can be used to identify critical noise paths and vehicle components responsible for specific noise phenomena.
FEV has developed several tools, which are adapted to the considered noise phenomena: Powertrain induced interior noise and vibration is analyzed by VINS (Vehicle Interior Noise Simulation), which allows the deduction of improvement measures fast enough for application in the accelerated vehicle development process. Further on vehicle/powertrain combinations not realized in hardware can be evaluated by virtual installation of the powertrain in the vehicle, which is especially interesting in the context of engine downsizing from four to three or six to four cylinders. Road induced interior noise is investigated by “Chassis-VINS” or “Fast-VINS”, depending on the required level of detailing and project timing. With the upcoming change of pass-by noise legislation VENS (Vehicle Exterior Noise Simulation) supports the target oriented component development to fulfill the legal limits.
The application of these methods on more than one hundred vehicles - from microcar to heavy duty truck - in the last decade allows for rating vehicle noise shares relative to the state of the art. Selected examples of different vehicles show possible distributions of several airborne and structure borne noise paths.