The Effect of Optimization of Road Acoustic Properties on Vehicle Noise

Tyre noise is an important component of the total noise produced by a vehicle. This noise component has a strong contribution to the overall quality associated with interior and exterior vehicle noise. It is also recognised that road acoustic absorption is of paramount importance in understanding and quantifying the noise produced by the interaction between the tyres and the road surface. In this paper the author presents a nondestructive method for the measurement of the frequency dependence of the acoustic absorption and impedance of road surfaces and its use in their optimisation. The effect of this absorption on the total radiated tyre noise is assessed and its implications on interior and exterior vehicle noise quality are explored.