To comply with increasingly stringent emission norms and simultaneously enhance engine efficiency, durability, and power output, continuous improvements in engine performance have become essential for modern automotive engineering. However, these advancements often result in unintended consequences, particularly in the form of elevated noise and vibration (NV) levels, which negatively impact overall vehicle refinement and customer comfort. Managing NV without compromising performance has therefore emerged as a critical challenge in contemporary powertrain development. The study addresses the optimization of NV characteristics while maintaining engine functionality through a hybrid approach. This method combines transfer path of noise and vibration with a detailed evaluation of engine electronic control unit (ECU) parameters. By combining these analytical techniques, critical contributors to NV were identified, enabling the formulation of a targeted countermeasure strategy. Experimental validation was carried out on the engine intake system under controlled conditions to assess the effectiveness of proposed solutions.
Results indicate that modifications to the intake system significantly reduce noise levels at the engine intake side, thereby improving acoustic comfort without adversely affecting combustion efficiency or power delivery. Furthermore, systematic optimization of ECU parameters contributed to smoother engine operation and reduced vibrational excitation across multiple operating points. The findings demonstrate that accurately targeting the appropriate engine subsystem and employing an integrated analytical-experimental framework can achieve balanced performance and acoustic refinement. This work highlights the effectiveness of integrated analytical and experimental methods for achieving balanced performance and acoustic refinement in advanced engines.