Development of an Air Intake System for NVH Performance by Combining Numerical and Experimental Techniques 2012-01-0903

Vehicle NVH is one of the key parameters in defining the perception quality of a vehicle. Interior noise refinement is necessary from comfort point of view whereas exterior noise should also be controlled to meet the environmental legislations.

The paper focuses on the NVH development of a new air intake system. The new air intake system is designed keeping in mind the targets for fuel efficiency, torque, power output and cost. For the said improvements, significant changes are incorporated in the air tank structure, runner and plenum designs. These changes are bound to impact the NVH performance.

The air intake noise can broadly be classified into structural radiation and orifice noise. In the current scope of study, the radiated noise from the air intake system is investigated. To trouble shoot the structural radiation, techniques like Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) and Finite element normal mode / frequency response analysis have been carried out. Achievement of good correlation between physical and simulation results enabled to make design changes digitally for NVH improvements which led to a significant reduction of developmental lead time and cost. Countermeasure proposals have been incorporated in the base design for the desired NVH improvements. As a second phase of the development, the orifice noise is being studied in GT-POWER simulation.