A new test track for automotive squeak and rattle (S&R) detection

Abstract

The perceived quality of interior sounds is of increasing importance in the automotive industry since it is important for the customer perception of vehicle quality. Squeak and rattle (S&R) is a group of intermittent interior noise that reduce the sense of quality dramatically. To identify and solve S&R problems the car manufacturers do both simulations and tests in laboratory of complete vehicles as well as subsystems. As a complement, to laboratory testing and for verification, complete vehicle tests at proving grounds are done. In order to systematically test for vehicle S&R noise at proving grounds there is a need for a new type of test track that in a controlled and repetitive ways excite vehicles at different frequencies. This paper describes such a new test track, called the Frequency Sweep Test Track (FSTT). The test track is based on sweep excitation and improves the precision when detecting and solving S&R issues. Different design considerations such as sweep waveform, frequency range and sweep rate are discussed. The track design is evaluated using a quarter-car model including a tandem ellipsoid tyre model. In a case study a FSTT was built and the excitation of a car was measured. The track excited the expected frequency range and the track operated well in detecting a rattle in the dashboard of an executive production car and at which frequency the rattle occurred.