Title: Characterisation of vehicle seat rattle noise from seat structural dynamics

Authors: Mohammad Fard; Aleksandar Subic; Leon Lo; Franz Konstantin Fuss

Addresses: School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia ' School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia ' School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia ' School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract: The vehicle seat has robust structural dynamics characteristics which typically comprise of a maximum of three known vibration mode shapes at low frequencies (< 70 Hz). The goal of this paper is to investigate whether the seat rattle can be predicted and managed from its structural dynamics. The amplitude (loudness) and the high fractal dimensions of the signal (unpleasantness of the sound) have been studied. It has been shown that by modifying the critical frequencies, the seat rattle can be controlled and set in the early design phase. In addition to managing the frequency of the rattle, the knowledge of the seat vibration mode shape may help optimise the joint's properties. The locations and geometries of the joint for the seat sub-components, such as storage box or headrest, can be modified during the design stage in order to reduce the seat rattle noise.

Keywords: rattle noise; vehicle seats; structural dynamics; resonant frequency; mode shape; fractal dimensions; vehicle seat rattle; vehicle noise; seat vibration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2014.064255

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2014 Vol.10 No.3, pp.226 - 240

Received: 08 Nov 2013
Accepted: 16 Apr 2014
Published online: 10 Sep 2014 *

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