Development of a Methodology to Measure the In-Vehicle Noise Levels due to the Tire–Pavement Interaction

Abstract

The prime objective of the current study is to develop a methodology to measure the in-vehicle noise levels due to the tire–pavement interaction. Accordingly, noise levels were measured in a passenger car using a handheld sound level meter and a three-axis stabilizer-mounted sound level meter placed near the driver’s ear. The noise levels captured using both the sound level meters were compared at the different vehicle speeds ranging from 40 to 70 kmph. The noise levels recorded in the stabilizer-mounted sound level meter were up to 2 dB (A) lower than the noise levels recorded in the handheld sound level meter. Average variation of 3.4–5.4 decibels dB (A) was observed between the selected asphalt and cement concrete pavements, with the highest noise being produced by cement concrete pavements. Apart from the increase in noise levels with an increase in speed, it was also observed that for every 10 kmph increase in speed, the noise levels due to tire–pavement interaction on cement concrete pavements increased by approximately 1 dB (A) more than the asphalt concrete pavements. Further, the noise levels in windows open condition are 1.33 dB (A) more than the windows closed condition. Even though the past research works measured the in-vehicle noise levels perceived by the commuters, the methodology adopted in this study is first of its kind in the tire–pavement noise research where the noise levels due to the reduced effect of tremor vibrations near the driver’s ear were captured.