Moment - based experimental method for the improvement of transfer path analysis accuracy

The problem of tire-road contact induced road noise has become a main challenge for researchers in vehicle NVH, and many methods have been developed aiming to identify and reduce it. Transfer path analysis (TPA) is commonly used to estimate the road noise of vehicles which is transmitted through vehicle suspension to the body. In this paper, an experimental method for the estimation of road noise of vehicles with multi-link suspension systems using moment of force at the mounting point to improve TPA accuracy is developed. To apply the moment based experimental method, the input force at the mounting point is estimated using a model based on the loads which include both translational and rotational components. Next, moment information deduced from the distance between impact points and accelerometers is added to the frequency response functions measured during impact tests. Additionally, operational data is measured accounting for the displacement of accelerometers resulting from the rotation of the suspension link coupling points. The moment based experimental method is validated by comparing the road noise estimated using moment based TPA with those using the conventional TPA.