The application of tuned mass dampers to the Tire Pavement Test Apparatus to minimize the impact of rig resonance

Abstract

The 'Tire Pavement Test Apparatus (TPTA)' at Purdue University is a device that was originally developed to study a tire's air-borne noise radiation in the frequency range 300 Hz to 2 kHz. However, in recent years, the device has mainly been used to quantify a tire's contribution to structure-borne noise by measuring the force and acceleration at the hub. Hence, the frequency range of interest has shifted to frequencies below 300 Hz. By comparing measurements and FE simulations, undesired vibration was observed around 160 Hz in the measurement data. It was speculated that the rig supporting the tire exhibits resonant vibration in a frequency range that hinders the measurement of tire force in that range. To identify the cause and mechanism of the rig resonance, Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) was performed. In addition, to mitigate the influence of rig resonance, tuned mass dampers commonly used in vehicle suspension systems were applied to the connecting arms of the TPTA. Careful adjustments of their mass and stiffness were performed to maximize vibration suppression performance by matching the major natural frequency of the TPTA support arms. As a result, significant vibration attenuation could be achieved, which has made it possible to highlight the pure tire effects in the measurement data.