Page 23 - Industrial Technology magazine February 2021 issue

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Vehicle of the future

TEST AND MEASUREMENT

KISTLER IS SUPPORTING THE NVH
DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN AND
ELECTRIC VEHICLES

ighter environmental regulations are triggering
disruptive trends in the automotive industry. Now
more than ever, the efficiency of the internal
Tcombustion engine (ICE) is being pushed to its
limits and the need for developing electric drivelines is
coming to the fore. These trends not only affect the way
vehicles are engineered and how their noise and vibration
performance is perceived, they also have an impact on the
measurement tools needed to develop the vehicle of the
future. Their reliability and flexibility must come with no
compromise, and Kistler is supporting this trend. quality. In light of such a disruptive process, the job of transmitted between different vibrating components.
NVH stands for noise, vibration and harshness, and NVH engineers is to translate new customer expectations Besides being extremely insightful, this technical
covers all aspects of the acoustic and vibrational and perceptions into quantifiable measures, reliable information feeds higher-level vehicle NVH design
behaviour of a vehicle. A proper design of the NVH technologies and effective solutions. They cannot processes like Transfer Path Analysis (TPA), blocked force
characteristics not only influences performance, durability compromise on the reliability and accuracy of their testing measurements, body-in-white optimisations and others.
and reliability of the vehicle, it also ensures the conformity tools if they want to be successful. The quantification of interface forces between the
to customer expectations in terms of driveability, comfort Kistler therefore supports automotive customers from- propulsion system and the vehicle frame at the mounting
and brand image. And, as vehicle technology evolves, sensor-to-answer: starting from acceleration and force points is of particular interest. The ideal measurement
NVH testing paradigms evolve too. sensors to analysis software via cables and data device must, firstly, fit specific and complex packaging
acquisition systems. spaces and loading conditions.
Challenges ahead for NVH engineering Secondly, it must be able to measure high frequencies
New propulsion and vehicle technologies change both the NVH measurement technology requirements and capture different orders of force magnitude with the
way products are engineered and their perception by the The adoption of updated or even newly developed same accuracy. Piezo-electric measuring technology ticks
final customer. Even outside the technical NVH world, it is propulsion and vehicle technologies also affects the all the required boxes, and, if designed by experienced
evident that electric powertrains show different sound and measurement chain. Requirements must therefore be sensor engineers, it can deliver data of outstanding
vibration behaviours compared to the classic ICE. The aligned with the new technical needs. accuracy under virtually any condition. However,
throaty and often sporty signature sound is now replaced While acceleration is easily the most measured designing a piezo-electric sensor is not an easy task and
by something closer to a high-frequency whistling of the physical quantity in NVH, the requirements for requires the high manufacturing standards, accurate
electric motors. acceleration sensors depend on each specific application. calibration and, more importantly, deep expertise in sensor
Moreover, once the engine sound is gone, wind, road Classic ICE applications generally require accelerometers engineering.
and ventilation noises become more noticeable to the that can withstand high temperatures of up to 160°C. At New paradigms in automotive engineering also require
passenger, with immediate consequences on the perceived the same time, they need to ensure a thermally stable new tools for NVH experts to reliably acquire and freely
quality and brand image of the vehicle. The shift from a sensitivity to avoid the need for temperature corrections. post-process their data, allowing them to abstract from
classic ICE-based driveline to an electric one also requires Such high standards can be fulfilled by Kistler’s PiezoStar classic and established workflows. Kistler’s KISUITE is
a change in the overall vehicle architecture. For example, technology, which also offers higher sensitivity compared such an example, which can be combined with the data
the presence of a heavy battery pack has an impact on to industry-standard Quartz solutions. acquisition hardware KiNOVA. It leaves engineers
vehicle dynamics and vibration, and this influences ride When shifting to e-motors, broader usable frequency complete freedom to customize and automate data
ranges of up to 10kHz which still provide high sensitivity analysis processes to extract new and revealing insights.
are necessary. Ground isolation gains importance to avoid
distorting current loops. Last but not least, a good Understanding is the key to change
acceleration sensor for automotive applications must Now more than ever the automotive industry is going
ensure easy and flexible mounting to guarantee a quick through a change. The challenges of today will lead to the
and reliable test setup. Ride quality is also important to products of tomorrow. Right now, NVH engineers are
measure and quantify, especially when heavy battery designing how the vehicles of the future will sound and
packs impact the overall vehicle dynamics. Here MEMS feel.
capacitive accelerometers ensure that even very low But despite new challenges and changing
frequencies all the way down to 0Hz are accurately requirements, reliable and flexible measurement tools will
captured. remain the solid foundation of any technological
A shift in vehicle technology often leads NVH change.
engineers to investigate how dynamic forces are MORE INFORMATION: www.kistler.com

January/February 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY 23