Analysis of an automobile door closure vibroacoustic response

Abstract

The acoustic response of a car door latch has been shown to directly impact the customers’ perceived quality and value evaluation of the automobile. This work introduces an experimentally validated computational model of three door latch components. The transient sound pressure level response of the three door latch components during door closure was collected in a semianechoic chamber using a three-element condenser microphone array. Postprocessing methodologies such as sound pressure level versus 1/3 octave band and continuous wavelet transform analysis were performed. This provided an in-depth analysis on the overall acoustic response and identification of dominant frequencies corresponding to four specific impact events during latch operation. Computational finite element analysis of the closure system using a rigid body, and explicit dynamic and transient structural acoustic analyses provided additional insights into the latch component interactions and the acoustic response generated empirically. Recorded average sound pressure level, frequency decomposition, and impact reaction forces are presented in addition to a comparison between the acoustic response for two different door closure speeds. It was found that an increased door closure speed increased the response sound pressure level, decreased damping of the primary impact, and decreased the frequency bandwidth of the response, thereby generating an acoustic response that would be perceived as noisier, less safe, and less secure by customers. These findings provide additional insights into the primary impact acoustic response of an automotive door latch during closure. The methodology introduced in this work allows automotive engineers to perform future work with modified latch components to further improve the psychoacoustic response of the automotive car door latch, further increasing the value evaluation of the automobile.

Applications of the Generalized Morse Wavelets: A Review

“…Vibroacoustic responses have also been studied using the WT and GMWs. For example, Garro et al [62] studied the primary influence of an automotive door latch's acoustic response when closing. Three door latch components' transient sound pressure level responses were collected and analyzed.…”

Rear boot swing door closing effort: Calculations, objective and subjective evaluations in an LCV model

“…The remaining 25% is defined as the responsibility of door weight, latch and hinge friction. Jayaram and Mohanraj 10 studied the influence of tolerance methods and aspects of Thavamani et al 19 3 3 3 Cheng et al 20 ; Hamilton 21 ; Garro et al 22 ; Petniunas et al 23 ; Takada et al 24 ; To ¨rnqvist and Wallin, 25 Yunkai and Zhe 26…”

“…Additional damping to outer and rear quarter panels, extension of secondary seal and over slam bumper reduced high frequency content. Garro et al 22 studied the impact of closing velocity to DCS. 0.851 m/s was recommended as the maximum DCV to optimize better customer closing-sound perception.…”