Integrated solutions for noise and vibration control in vehicles

A strong issue on the development of new vehicles is the weight reduction, required for the reduction of the fuel consumption and the CO2 emissions. The current vehicles have already a structure optimised to have low weight without reducing the required performances. However, there are some components of the structure that can be further reduced in weight still matching the resistance, crash and fatigue performances, but giving a poor performance in terms of noise and vibrations and increasing both the structure-borne and air-borne sound transmission.In the European FP7 project Green City Car, flexible, integrated passive and active solutions are developed permitting noise and vibration attenuation in vehicles equipped with the next generation of highly fuel-efficient two- or three cylinder internal combustion engines (ICE). Among others, shunted piezoelectric patches and electro-magnetic actuation as well as smart Helmholtz resonators are considered. Additionally, dedicated active noise control systems for the control of broadband rolling noise are developed. Besides, Green City Car addresses and implements novel damping materials and acoustic treatments as well as design approaches for tyres which are an important acoustic source for exterior and interior noise. This holistic approach should lead to a reduction in noise and vibrations levels in the order of 10 dB(A) and more measurable in the city car provided (not on component level). Currently, Green City Car finished its second year and first results are presented and discussed in this pape

The Green City Car. A holistic approach for NVH abatement of city cars

Pursuing the different passive and active concepts in a holistic approach, the FP7 project Green City Car demonstrates the feasibility of applying active systems to NVH-related problems light city cars from a system point-of view. During the project, a city car equipped with a small engine has been considered equipped with the latest technology in terms of safety aspects related to pedestrian’s impact and car-to-car compatibility, which are of major importance in an urban environment. The noise reduction technology developed and implemented in this city car addressed the mass reduction of the complete sound packages, the application of new materials, passive or active piezo-electric or electro-magnetic patches on vehicle and engine panels, smart Helmholtz resonators and broadband active noise cancellation. A complete integration and correct balance of such components should be found out, in order to achieve the given objectives of noise and weight reduction. Within this paper selected results achieved within Green City Car will be presented and discussed