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The authors previously presented at SAE 2015, the use of acoustic diagnostic network algorithms (Acoustic DNA) for the measurement and analysis of noise paths in motor vehicles. To further the understanding of the huge amount of data created in this method, especially by the end user or customer, a secure web based application platform has been engineered. The current paper presents operating aspects of the web based approach, including cyber security, multi device accessibility and intuitive user interface together with an innovative optimization toolbox from which both noise sources and vehicle body systems can be modified to be target compliant.

Acoustic Diagnostic Network Algorithms (DNA) are experimental methods that extract airborne acoustic characteristics from a motor vehicle and decompose this information into a set of networks from which the source, path and receiver noise sources and paths can be determined. Unlike traditional transfer path analysis Acoustic DNA takes the problem into the fine detail. It answers questions such as what, where and how does a vehicle's acoustic systems need to be changed in order to achieve any given objective. This paper describes the fundamental methodology and features together with how it has been implemented into a computer program that has been used successfully in over 50 vehicle projects within the Authors Research and Development group on a wide range of motor vehicles.

Acoustic palliatives used in the automotive industry have evolved from simple felt and heavy layer combinations into highly complex formulations and combinations to account for higher performance targets, lower weight and inevitably cost constraints. Achieving Customer performance compliance usually involves a time-consuming exercise of material characterisation and measurement. Ideally this should be carried out via simulation, but as material mixtures and compositions become more complex, the ability to accurately simulate their acoustic performance is becoming increasingly difficult. Historically, Biot parameters and their associated TMM models have been used to simulate the acoustic performance of multi-layer material compositions. However, these simulations are not able to account for real-world complexities such as manufacturing imperfections or inter-layer gluing effects.