Technical Paper
Using Rumble Strips for Buzz, Squeak and Rattle (BSR) Evaluation of Subsystems or Components
2007-05-15
2007-01-2267
Many car companies use rumble strips to evaluate Buzz, Squeak & Rattle (BSR) performance of vehicles. Some call these surfaces by other names such as chatter bumps or wake-up strips. But regardless of what they're called, these surfaces are characterized by a uniform spacing of bumps or strips which are driven over at a particular speed(s). This is a relatively easy way to generate relatively high vibration levels so these surfaces are often favorites of the team doing total vehicle evaluation for BSR. If this is the case, then it is essential that a rumble strip evaluation be performed at the subsystem or component level when certifying that a particular item will not generate BSR problems in the vehicle. One of Siemens' customers uses Rumble Strips to evaluate the Radio/CD player that Siemens supplies. Carefully defined test track tests showed that the particular dynamic characteristics of the Rumble Strip surface made it very challenging to have a repeatable, realistic test.