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The application of SEA (Statistical Energy Analysis) to the sound package design for a convertible is presented. SEA modeling was used optimize the soft-top construction and the acoustic insulation in the top-stack area (where the soft-top is stored) which were shown to be important transmission paths for tire noise. Correlation between measurement data and predictions from the SEA model is presented and good agreement shown. It is concluded that SEA can be applied to determine the special sound package requirements for convertible vehicles.

Vehicle sound package serves two basic functions: general acoustic insulation and local problem treatment. The former is often done at the up-front phase of the vehicle development process, and the latter at the downstream phase when representative prototype hardware becomes available and specific noise problems are identified. This paper examines the goals and key tasks of practical SEA CAE applications in the two phases of the sound package development process. Topics on CAE model requirement, typical analysis applications, and ways to improve the effectiveness of SEA applications to compliment hardware testing are discussed.

Closed cell foam has been used for filling vehicle pillar cavities at select locations to block road noise transmitted through pillars. In the past, most pillar foam implementations in vehicle programs were driven by subjective improvements in interior sound. In this study road test results are used to correlate a detailed CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) model based on the statistical energy analysis method. Noise reduction characteristics of pillar with a number of foam block fillings were then studied using the CAE model. The CAE models provided means to model and understand the mechanism of noise energy flow through pillar cavities. A number of insightful conclusions were obtained as result of the study.