Semi-active vibro-acoustic control of vehicle transmission systems using a metal rubber-based isolator

Abstract

This work is concerned about employing a semi-active metal rubber (MR)-based isolator to suppress noise and vibration for vehicle transmission systems. The adaptive stiffness and damping properties of MR material play a key role in the semi-active control effect. In this regard, a particular automotive transmission component—precisely, a plate dedicated to accommodating bearings—has been selected as the focus of research to control its noise and vibration. A microcomputer-driven control system is applied, featuring characteristics such as high performance, compact size, lightweight design, and energy efficiency, which make it ideal for testing in the automotive sector. The efficacy of the devised control scheme is assessed through the deployment of accelerometers and sound intensity probes to quantify the vibrations and the radiated acoustic power, respectively. Interesting noise and vibration reduction rates are achieved using both open-loop and closed-loop strategies. This research opens the horizons to employ MR material in a semi-active configuration for industrial requirements surpassing its classical passive implementation, notably in terms of broadband attenuation performance.