Practical Component
This Academy includes several equipment demonstrations and hands-on lab sessions. Specific instrumentation suppliers have been selected to furnish equipment and assist with the sessions. Through these activities, you become acquainted with relevant instrumentation, measurement protocols, and problem solving strategies. Also, an in-class case problem is utilized throughout the Academy to tie theory and concepts to practical application.

During the Academy, you will be assigned to a project team and a case problem will be distributed. Each team prepares a response to the case, which requires newly learned concepts to be applied. At the conclusion of the Academy, each team presents their case response to instructors who provide feedback and discussion.

Pre-Academy Activity
Prior to the week-long Academy, there are important pre-work assignments which may include readings and exercises for self study on noise and vibration introductory concepts, sensors, and decibels. In addition, a Webex-telephone conference call is scheduled to review fundamentals and answer questions.

• Define vehicle acoustics engineering terminology and principles
• Identify available acoustical materials and determine their optimum application
• Formulate a systematic approach to problem solving and measurement
• Conduct appropriate performance verification tests
• Analyze the contributing vehicle noise sources when devising noise solutions
• Produce valid measurements with noise instrumentation and accurately interpret results

• Passenger cars
• Light trucks
• Heavy trucks
• Off-highway vehicles
• Farm machinery
• Small planes
• Personal watercraft
• Rail transit vehicles

PRE-ACADEMY

• Readings and exercises
• Webex conference (2-3 days prior to Academy start)
  • Fundamentals -- Final Review; Current Trends; Source-path-receiver model
• Answer questions from pre-academy activities

DAY ONE

• Sound Quality
  • Definition of sound quality
  • The perception of sound
  • Factors associated with sound quality
  • Instrumentation for sound quality
  • Jury testing and correlation with objective analysis
  • Sound quality demonstration

Vehicle Interior Noise Track

• Vehicle Interior Noise-Related Topics
  • Automotive noise problem
  • Different types of measurements

DAY TWO

• Source-Path-Receiver System and Vehicle Noise Sources
  • Various noise controls using acoustical materials
  • Acoustical Materials and Test Methods
• Team Case Problem Discussion
• Numerical acoustics
  • Methods for predicting vehicle interior noise
  • Boundary and finite element modeling
  • Statistical energy analysis
• Numerical Acoustics Workshop/Demonstration

DAY THREE

• Acoustical Materials and Test Methods
  • Absorbers
  • Barriers
  • Case examples
• Vehicle Measurements
  • Dampers
  • Isolators
  • Case examples
  • Squeaks and rattles-types and causes

Both Tracks Combined

OEM Facility Tour

DAY FOUR

Vehicle Interior Noise Track

• Instrumentation & Measurement
  • Transducers
  • Microphones
  • Accelerometers
  • Advanced signal acquisition
  • Test Facilities--Reverberation room, anechoic, hemi-anechoic rooms

Both Tracks Combined

• Sound Intensity/Pressure/Power
• Instrumentation Workshop/Demo
  • Transducers and signal conditioning
  • Sound level meters
  • Filter analyzers
  • FFT analyzers
  • Signal processing

DAY FIVE

Overview of Modal Analysis and Operating Shapes

• How structures respond dynamically
• Response of plates
• Analytical and experimental modal analysis
• Developing various models

Both Tracks Combined

Tools to Investigate Sound Generation & Propagation

• Sound pressure measurements and sound level meters
• Sound intensity probes and sound field mapping
• Sound power determination

• Track Case Problem Discussion & Adjournment

Pranab Saha, Ph.D., P.E., INCE Bd. Cert., Lead Instructor, is the Principal Consultant and co-owner of Kolano and Saha Engineers, Inc., an independent consulting company in acoustics, noise and vibration control. A well-known authority on automotive noise control and body interior systems, Dr. Saha has directed and participated nationally and internationally in numerous advanced noise control engineering programs for OEM companies and their suppliers. Dr. Saha is the Lead Faculty Member of the SAE Vehicle Interior Noise Engineering Academy and has organized SAE topical symposia. He was the General Chairman of the 2005 SAE Noise and Vibration Conference. He is the past-chairman of the SAE Acoustical Materials Committee and has helped develop several standards in acoustics. Dr. Saha is an active member of ASA, ASME, INCE, NSPE, the SAE International, and a contributing editor of Sound and Vibration publication. He has presented technical papers, organized and chaired numerous technical sessions sponsored by SAE and other professional organizations. Dr. Saha has also won several awards presented by the SAE International and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE). Dr. Saha holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calcutta, a M.S. in Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Acoustics Specialty) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.