This Engineering Academy covers a variety of vehicle noise control engineering principles and practice. Two specialty tracks are available: Vehicle Interior Noise and Powertrain Noise. While the Vehicle Interior Noise track focuses on the understanding and application of acoustical materials to optimize NVH in the passenger or operator compartment of a vehicle, the Powertrain Noise track focuses on NVH issues generated by powertrain noise sources and the design strategies to minimize them. Noise sources include engines, transmissions/transfer cases, accessories, exhaust, gears, axles, joints, and couplings. Considerable attention is given to current measurement and instrumentation technologies and their effective use.

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 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
• Articulate powertrain noise terminology and principles
• 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

Both Tracks Combined

• 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

Powertrain Noise Track

• Engine NVH Mechanisms
  • Slider/Crank dynamics
  • Crankshaft Related Noise
  • Oil pump noise
  • Gears intake/exhaust noise

DAY TWO

• Engine NVH Mechanisms
  • Combustion noise
  • Piston noise
  • Chain noise
  • Valvetrain noise
  • Engine covers
• Diesel Noise Sources & Controls
  • Diesel engine noise
  • Combustion noise sources
  • Mechanical noise source
  • Reducing structure borne sound
  • Radiation efficiency
• Powertrain Instrumentation Workshop

DAY THREE

Powertrain Noise Track

• Powertrain & Driveline Noise Sources I
  • Gear noise
  • Transmission noise and shift quality
  • Powertrain NVH problem solving
• Accessory Drive Noise and Vibration
  • Belt and tensioner noise
  • Alternator noise
  • Steering system noise
  • Cooling system quieting
• Powertrain & Driveline Noise Sources II
  • Engine mounting systems
  • Powertrain noise and vibration paths
  • Structural modes
  • Driveline arrangements and disturbances

Both Tracks Combined

OEM Facility Tour

DAY FOUR

Powertrain Noise Track

• NVH Signal Processing I
  • Sampling Fundamentals: Windows, Leakage and Aliasing
  • Calculating and Interpreting Spectral Analysis Functions -- Autopower; Crosspower; Derivative Functions: H1, H2, Coherence
  • Rotating Machinery Techniques -- Order Tracking; Adaptive Re-sampling
• NVH Signal Processing II
  • Multi-Input Multi-Output System Analysis with Applications -- Operating Deflection Shapes; Forces and Sources
  • Intro to Time/Frequency Analysis -- Spectrogram methods and interpretation; Time/Frequency filtering for rotating machinery; Wavelets made simple

Both Tracks Combined

• Sound Intensity/Pressure/Power
• Instrumentation Workshop/Demo

DAY FIVE

• System Integration
  • Combining sub-systems and components
  • Powertrain bending frequency: influence on system
  • Mounting systems and issues

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

Powertrain Noise Track

• Team Discussion & Adjournment

Alan D. Stuart, Ph.D., Lead Instructor, is an Associate professor emeritus of acoustics at Penn State. For over 25 years, he taught fundamentals of acoustics courses on both the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as graduate courses on structural acoustics and applied acoustics. He has conducted numerous professional short courses on acoustics and vibrations and noise control engineering. At Penn State, he was the coordinator of the Summer Program in Acoustics and the Distance Education Program in Acoustics and received numerous awards for his contributions to Continuing and Distance Education. He is an active member of SAE, ASA, INCE and ASEE. Dr. Stuart received a BSME from Pratt Institute, an MSEE from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Acoustics from Penn State.

Michael F. Albright is co-founder and General Manager of Signal.X Technologies, LLC, a firm specializing in NVH engineering and custom test and measurement application development. He brings over 20 years of NVH experience to the SAE Noise Academies team. His past positions include Business Development Manager for the NVH consulting group of LMS North America, Management and Project engineering positions at the Roush Anatrol Division of Rousch Industries, Inc. and Civilian engineering for the U.S. Navy. With experience predominantly in the automotive industry, Mr. Albright has addressed a very diverse range of noise and vibration control issues including Powertrain NVH, Vehicle NVH, Brake noise, Engine accessory noise, Driveline NVH, Test procedure and facility development, Test/CAE Hybrid simulation methods, as well as a host of manufacturing quality issues. Mr. Albright's degrees include a BSME from University of Cincinnati and MSME from Purdue University.

Jim De Clerck is currently the Structural Vibration Lead Engineer at the General Motors Noise and Vibration Center in Milford, Michigan. Jim has more than 20 years experience working and conducting research in the area of Noise and Vibration. Jim has been actively involved the GM Technical Education Program and recently completed teaching a graduate course in Automotive NVH at the University of Michigan. He is the author of more than 30 technical papers. Jim holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan Technological University.

Gordon L. Ebbitt is a Manager of Advanced Acoustics at Carcoustics where he works with automotive sound package design and the development and validation of new acoustical and thermal materials and components. Mr. Ebbitt's experience includes the CBS Technology Center on projects involving musical instrument research and development including modal and finite element analysis on pianos, guitars, and other instruments. Mr. Ebbitt also worked for Brüel and Kjaer headquarters in Denmark where he addressed sound quality instrumentation, sound intensity measurements, and material measurements. At Brüel and Kjaer in Michigan he was an application engineer supporting their U.S. staff and lecturing on sound quality, acoustical measurements, and other topics. Following B&K, Mr. Ebbitt joined Masland Industries (later Lear Corporation) as Chief Acoustical Engineer where he was responsible for the construction and operation of an acoustical laboratory, the development of vehicle sound packages, full vehicle modeling using SEA, and acoustical product development. Mr. Ebbitt is a member of SAE, INCE, ASA, AES, and ASTM. Mr. Ebbitt received a B.A. in Mathematics from New York University and M.S. in Acoustics from The Pennsylvania State University.

Michael Grimmer is a Staff project engineer with the General Motors Powertrain Division at the GM noise and vibration laboratory in Milford, Michigan. Mr. Grimmer has worked for GM for over 20 years in the powertrain noise and vibration area. His work has focused on noise requirement allocation technology; vehicle integration; engine design; noise development and problem solving of engine, transmission, and accessory systems; component bench test design; sound quality measurement and metric development; and signature analysis for engine defect detection. Mr. Grimmer received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Gary Hazelton is an Engine Lead Noise and Vibration Engineer for gasoline and diesel engines at General Motors Powertrain Division. He has more than 17 years of noise and vibration experience in engine, accessory drive system, and accessory component level measurement and analysis. Gary began his career in 1986 at Delphi Automotive Systems, in Lockport, NY, where he worked to improve air conditioning system and compressor noise levels. He then moved to Powertrain where he was responsible for accessory drive noise and vibration development, and component level benchmarking activities. Gary has a BSME degree from the University of Cincinnati, with a concentration in mechanical vibrations and acoustics.

Arthur E. Howle is NVH Senior Technical Specialist, Roush Industries, Inc. Mr. Howle's career includes six years at a General Motors production facility and 27 years in vehicle development with Ford Motor Company. He has experience with many aspects of vehicle NVH, particularly powertrain and driveline related NVH including: front, rear, and all wheel drive architectures. He is an expert in the utilization of high tech testing and CAE to predict, identify, and solve difficult NVH issues. He has also been a major contributor to many advanced vehicle programs and launches. Mr. Howle has a BSME from General Motors Institute and a MSME from Ohio State University.

Thomas Reinhart is Program Manager for NVH in the Engine, Emissions, and Vehicle Research division of Southwest Research Institute. Previous roles include Senior Manager for NVH at Visteon Chassis Systems, where Mr. Reinhart was responsible for the NVH analysis and development of axles, driveshafts, and power steering systems. From 2001 to 2004, he was NVH Program Manager at Roush Industries, Inc. where he was responsible for NVH testing and development of diesel and gasoline engines, as well as transmissions, axles and accessories. Diesel fuel system noise was a special focus of this work. Prior to Roush, he was Director of Noise & Vibration Technology at Cummins, Inc. Mr. Reinhart has been involved in solving noise and vibration issues in engines, as well as in a wide variety of engine applications, including pickup trucks, heavy duty trucks, construction equipment, and marine. Mr. Reinhart has developed noise reduction features for diesel engines, four of which have been patented. He has published 15 technical papers on Powertrain NVH topics. Mr. Reinhart received his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. He also spent a year studying automotive engineering at the Technical University of Hannover, Germany. His master's thesis focused on the application of acoustic intensity measurements to diesel engines.