Vehicle Retention Methods for Four-Wheel Chassis Dynamometer Testing

Four-Wheel Anechoic Chassis dynamometers are an established and valuable tool used extensively in the development of noise control systems for the automotive industry. Variations in vehicle platforms, exterior styling, as well as, increases in vehicle test load condition ranges have changed the methods required to secure vehicles to chassis dynamometers.

This paper will investigate two methods used to retain vehicles for four-wheel chassis dynamometer testing. These methods affect the acoustic signature of the test vehicle and can influence the measured performance of acoustic treatments. The performance of a typical acoustic interior system will be measured and analyzed under different vehicle retention methods as well as the influence of retention force variation. Best practice recommendations are then discussed.