Search Results

The low frequency noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics play a critical role in the design of vehicle Body-In-White (BIW) structures. Lower order modes influence the structural reliability of the vehicle as well as its ride and handling characteristics. Special consideration is given to ensure that they are spaced apart and not coincident with the frequencies of other vehicle subsystems (e.g. engine and chassis). The added stiffness required to improve the NVH characteristics comes at a cost: increased BIW mass, which affects vehicle dynamics, fuel economy, and point mobilities/structural inertances. This paper documents a procedure to balance BIW build cost, mass and structural performance through an integrated optimization process.

For the 1990 model year Fuji Heavy Industries will introduce Subaru “Legacy” with a newly designed horizontally opposed 4-valve engine series including a 2.2 Lt for the US market. The new engine series which has been named “Boxer” to symbolize power has been designed and developed making the best use of the advantages of horizontally opposed engines and our twenty three years experience in producing them. The major advantages of horizontally opposed engines are low noise and vibration, with high specific power and design flexibility which are well featured in these new engines. This paper is intended to provide a brief overview of the new engine program with descriptions of unique design features.