Aerodynamic noise source measurement system for a motor vehicle

• US 20060137439A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Mallebay-Vacqueur, Jean P., Puskarz, Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/147
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/06 Measuring arrangements specially adapted for aerodynamic testing

Abstract

An aerodynamic noise measurement system for a vehicle uses sound reflectors to determine the sound wave propagation of aerodynamic noise of the vehicle. The vehicle is placed within a test section of a wind tunnel. The air flow of the wind tunnel generates the aerodynamic noise as it passes over the vehicle. An array of sound reflectors is placed outside of the air flow of the wind tunnel. Microphone arrays receive the aerodynamic noise directly from the source and from the sound reflectors. An analyzer system forms an acoustic image of the vehicle based on the aerodynamic noise. A viewing device displays an image of the vehicle with an overlay of aerodynamic noise data in real-time.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic noise measurement system for a vehicle comprising:

a wind tunnel that generates a flow of air;

a test area within the flow of air;

a plurality of sound reflectors arranged outside of the flow of air, wherein each of the sound reflectors includes a microphone array that measures aerodynamic noise that is generated by a vehicle in the test area and wherein the microphone array generates data signals indicative of the aerodynamic noise; and

an analyzer system that receives the data signals and generates one of a noise map and an image of the vehicle based on the data signals.

2. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 1 wherein each microphone array measures aerodynamic noise from a specific portion of the vehicle.

3. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer system determines a time function of the aerodynamic noise according to the data signals.

4. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 2 wherein the analyzer system performs time sampling on the data signals.

5. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 4 wherein the analyzer system performs the time sampling based on at least one of a Helmholz integral equation, a cross spectra, and a time delay of the aerodynamic noise from the specific portion of the vehicle.

6. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 2 wherein the analyzer system calculates a spectrum of a sound pressure level at the specific portions of the vehicle.

7. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 6 wherein the analyzer system calculates the spectrum according to a Fourier transform equation.

8. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 2 further comprising a viewing device that displays an image of the vehicle with an overlay of audio data that is indicative of the aerodynamic noise from the specific portions of the vehicle.

9. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 8 wherein the overlay includes sound pressure levels of the aerodynamic noise from the specific portions of the vehicle.

10. The aerodynamic noise measurement system of claim 8 wherein the viewing device displays the image and the overlay in real-time.

11. An aerodynamic noise measurement method comprising:

generating a flow of air;

locating a vehicle within the flow of air;

measuring aerodynamic noise from the vehicle at a plurality of sound reflectors arranged outside the flow of air;

generating data signals indicative of the aerodynamic noise;

generating one of a noise map and an image of the vehicle based on the data signals.

12. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 11 wherein the step of measuring includes measuring aerodynamic noise from a first portion of the vehicle at a first sound reflector and simultaneously measuring aerodynamic noise from a second portion of the vehicle at a second sound reflector.

13. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 12 further comprising determining a time function of the aerodynamic noise according to the data signals.

14. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 12 further comprising performing time sampling on the data signals.

15. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 14 wherein the step of performing time sampling includes performing time sampling based on at least one of a Helmholz integral equation, a cross spectra, and a time delay of the aerodynamic noise from the specific portion of the vehicle.

16. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 12 further comprising calculating a spectrum of a sound pressure level at the first portion and the second portion.

17. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 16 wherein the step of calculating includes calculating the spectrum according to a Fourier transform equation.

18. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 12 further comprising displaying an image of the vehicle with an overlay of audio data indicative of the aerodynamic noise.

19. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 18 wherein the step of measuring the aerodynamic noise and the step of displaying the overlay of audio data indicative of the aerodynamic noise occur simultaneously.

20. The aerodynamic noise measurement method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying includes displaying sound pressure levels at the first and second portions.