Abstract
Light weighting is an important focus area for automotive OEMs to achieve better fuel economy while maintaining the lower emission standards. Lightweight structural panels like roof, front windshield, floor, lift gate etc., increases the sound pressure level inside the cabin compartment due to higher vibration levels. Increase in sound pressure level over a broad frequency range could result in boom noise issues inside the cabin compartment. This paper discusses about the prediction and control of the sub-audible and audible boom noise issues in automotive vehicles using multi body dynamic loads (MBD) and linear finite element analysis (FEA). MBD analysis will capture the non-linearity of un-sprung mass of vehicle, which yields reliable interface forces at sprung mass attachments. These interface forces applied to linear finite element model to predict boom noise. Boom noise issues are analyzed inside the vehicles for two power train loading conditions and one road load condition. Boom noise issues diagnosed for critical contributors and feasible design enablers provided. Design changes in later stages of the program addressed for boom noise with package protection.