CO2NTROL - Integrated solutions for noise and vibration control in vehicles
Overview
Background & policy context:
Exploiting the potential of integrated solutions for the control of noise and vibration in vehicles to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce their impact on the environment is the principal aim of this project. Today's cars represent a complex compromise between contradictory requirements with regard to safety, exhaust emissions, noise, performance and price. However, since the quality of life, particularly in the urban environment, is heavily influenced by air and noise pollution resulting from road traffic, one of the top priorities for car manufacturers is the reduction of noise and emissions from vehicles, with particular attention currently being focused on CO2.
In this regards, the principal vehicle manufacturers in Europe have unanimously agreed to adopt an integrated approach which has as cornerstones the development of more fuel efficient power trains and weight reduction of the vehicle body. Today engine downsizing represents the most direct and cost effective approach to improving fuel efficiency in road vehicles in order to ensure significant reductions on the impact on the environment while still providing acceptable levels of performance and vehicle fun-to-drive.
Objectives:
However this new generation of engines, while being ideally suited to city vehicle applications, can result in a perceivable degree of deterioration in terms of noise and vibration when compared with the vehicles currently on the market.
Improvement of vehicle noise and vibration without affecting other performances is proving to be extremely difficult if not impossible with state-of-the-art technology. Frequently, new technologies in the fields of smart materials and active control provide potential solutions but have only been proved in the laboratory.
The objective of this project was to integrate such advanced laboratory-level technologies with conventional solutions with direct application to next generation city-car.
Methodology:
The concept of integrated noise and vibration solutions leads to a more efficient use of energy and weight savings in vehicles. Pursuing this in a holistic approach, Green City Car aims to demonstrate the feasibility of applying active systems to NVH-related problems of advanced power trains from a system point-of-view. 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. The overall expected results of the project were summarised as follows:
- provision of an holistic approach of noise and vibration control for city cars;
- validation of the feasibility of an integrated noise & vibration control on vehicle level having;
- same interior noise, possibly reduced exterior noise with significant weight reduction and improved fuel consumption as compared to the state-of-the-art vehicle;
- costs potentially competitive with conventional solutions;
- provision of an integrated noise & vibration control on vehicle level resulting in significant less noise and vibrations levels at same weight and energy consumption;
- increased modularity of integrated noise & vibration control;
- increased acceptance of city cars with energy efficient power trains from comfort point of view.
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