Door System Design for Improved Closure Sound Quality 1999-01-1681

Door closing sounds are an important element of the craftsmanship image of a vehicle. This paper examines the relationship between closure sound quality and door system design. The perception of door closing sound quality is shown to be primarily related to it's loudness and sharpness. Of the two, sharpness is more important than loudness. Other factors, like ring-down may also affect closure sound quality. The door system is made up of a number of components. The most important in terms of sound quality are the door and body structure, latch, and door seals. Each of these are classified as either a sound source, a transmission path or a sound radiator. Methods for improving the design of these components for good closure sound quality are discussed in some detail.