Towards Realistic Stick-Slip Testing: Efficiently Mapping Material Behaviour across a wide Range of Loading Conditions

To minimise noise caused by interior components rubbing against each other, automotive materials are usually tested in advance with the established stick-slip method according to VDA standard 230-206. This procedure is widely used for soft materials, upholstery and plastics. However, it is limited to constant climatic and selected loading conditions. Contrary, in real application, changing climates and dynamic excitations can nevertheless trigger noise issues even in materials rated as suitable in the prior tests. To address this gap, a new test method has been developed that evaluates the stick-slip behaviour of material combinations for a wide range of loading and climatic conditions. Conducted in a climate chamber with a standard stick-slip bench, the procedure applies sinusoidal excitations, dynamic climatic shifts and advanced data analysis. In addition to the usual results the new method also evaluates realistic scenarios such as starting a vehicle in different seasons or sudden jolting movements with high excitation speeds. The result is a detailed map of stick-slip behaviour as a function of excitation speed and climate. While requiring a similar level of effort as the traditional test, this approach delivers far greater insight. It enables a more reliable optimisation of materials and facilitates targeted material selection for specific applications. In doing so, it can not only contribute to improve product quality but also to achieve quiet interiors and customer satisfaction.