Virtual Acoustic Prototypes: Some recent projects

CHARMS: Vibro-Acoustic Source Strength Methods for Low Noise Design and Virtual Acoustic Prototypes

Sponsor: EPSRC

Collaborators: University of Liverpool

Budget: Overall project budget: £203k

Duration: 3 years

Start date: March 2003

Summary

The research aims to provide tools for designers to reduce noise output and refine acoustic quality of assembled machines. The current limitation on acoustic design is a lack of data and scientific methodology to characterise vibro-acoustic excitation by the active internal components of a machine, motors, pumps, fans, burners etc. New methods will be developed to characterise burners, condensers and rotating components. All the diverse excitation types - airborne, fluid-borne and structure-borne - will be considered simultaneously using an 'equivalent source methodology'. Additionally, emerging methods to characterise small pumps, fans and motors which have recently been successfully tested on certain machine types will be validated for previously untreated configurations. The developed methods will be used to construct 'Virtual Acoustic Machine Prototypes' of two entire working machines, both to validate the methods and to illustrate their use in an advanced design tool.

LaMoNoV: Lawnmower Noise and Vibration

Sponsor: International consortium headed by the European Garden Machinery Manufacturers Federation

Collaborators: CETIM, France; HEAD Acoustics, Germany; Consrtium of European and US manufacturersl

Budget: Overall project budget: €1,500k

Duration: 30 months

Start date: Feb 2004

Contact Prof. Andy Moorhouse

+44 (0) 161 295 5490

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