Investigation and Optimization of a Spare Wheel Well to Reduce Vehicle Interior Noise

Abstract

Optimization of structures with the intention to reduce noise emission has become an efficient tool during the past decade. Various approaches and applications have been published and will be briefly reviewed in this paper. Then, the structural component model of a spare wheel well and the fluid model of a sedan cabin are described. The noise transfer function is defined as the sound pressure level in vicinity of the driver's ear due to a harmonic force excitation at engine supports. The frequency range of 0–100 Hz is considered. In a first investigation, it is tested whether stiffening of the entire structural component really decreases the noise transfer function. It can be seen that this stiffening mainly affects noise emission in the upper frequency range. In a contribution analysis, i.e. analysis of the surface contribution to the noise at the driver's ear, the original model and the stiffened model are compared. This contribution analysis includes frequency ranges by summation of contribution and/or contribution levels. Modification of the structure by design variables consists of modification of the shell geometry, i.e. curvature. Two regions are selected at the bottom of the wheel well. Optimization of 30 design variables leads to a gain of 1.15 dB in the objective function being the root mean square value of the sound pressure level at the driver's ear. Finally, we discuss the results. In most papers on structural acoustic optimization, higher decreases have been reported. An explanation is provided, why this was not possible for the structure that has been investigated here. The new shape, however, seems to be a reasonable choice.