The demands expected of a modern state-of-the-art car with regard to optimum quality are constantly increasing. In addition to safety and travelling convenience, the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics are increasingly important considerations when purchasing a car.
This has been confirmed in the past by the steady growth of the market share held by Japanese cars, also as a result of this aspect, for instance the LEXUS top model from Toyota which incorporates dampers (rubber-metal vibration absorbing elements) for utmost travelling smoothness and acknowledged luxurious riding comfort.
However, be warned in this context: The Japanese designer eliminates vibrations in a slightly different manner. The problem is recognized beforehand and tackled by ensuring that vibration damping, through corresponding car internal masses, forms an integral part of the car during the design stage.
This calls for a different approach in the design departments as the car can no longer be considered solely under the aspect of rigidity and safety, but also from the standpoint of its dynamic, vibration technical characteristics. This paper aims at drawing attention to this aspect on the basis of authentic and practical examples from the automobile industry. To arouse the interest of both the vibration specialist from the NVH department as well as the designer, the paper will also cover fundamental aspects of vibrations, as well as the car and Man as vibration systems.