The present study enumerates the effectiveness of using Foam-inside Tyres (FIT) for attenuating the in-cabin noise due to tire-road interaction in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) converted Electric SUVs (E-SUV). Due to the elimination of the ICE Prime movers in (E-SUV), the Tyre booming, Tyre cavity, and rumbling noise in the structure-borne region are significantly audible in the driver’s & passenger's ears globally for E-SUVs. Foam tyres reduce tyre cavity resonance. However, the effectiveness of the acoustic foam is predominant between 180 to 240 Hz only.
In the present study, In Cabin Noise (ICN) measurement was completed on the comfort testing track, and the results of structure-borne in-cabin noise up to 500 Hz were analysed. These measurements identified the vehicle in-cabin sensitive frequencies, which are affected by the tyre and wheel assembly. To analyse the contribution of the Tyre design parameters and to predict the ICN performance in the whole vehicle simulation, CD Tire models were used to compare the performance of the different Tyre designs for reducing the In-Cabin Noise (ICN).
The Tyre design parameters affecting the ICN were identified, and the ICN performance of the improved tyre design was verified by the physical tyre’s in-cabin noise measurements & full vehicle simulation using CD Tire models of the improved tyre. The subjective evaluation of In-Cabin Noise was conducted with the expert drivers, and the ratings correlated with the objective measurements obtained from the simulations and measurements.