A comparison of two component TPA approaches for steering gear noise prediction

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of two component Transfer Path Analysis methods to predict the transmission of steering gear vibrations into the vehicle. The blocked-force TPA concept is used, allowing to measure the electric steering system on a test bench, separately from the car. Following up on an earlier study, a new test bench has been designed that is more compliant and therefore better suited for matrix-inverse force determination. Equivalent blocked forces are determined on this test bench using the in-situ method. A comparison is made with the blocked forces that were measured directly on the former stiff test bench. It is shown that the two methods lead to very similar equivalent force spectra for the operational steering system and therefore make a similar prediction for the noise in the vehicle.