NVH Basics (Intro 8) Noise Reduction and Sound Package Page 1

Author: D. Griffiths Rev. 03/25/2011

8. Noise Reduction and Sound Package

8.0 Introduction

In this section we mainly focus on sound package design for reducing sound from the powerplant, and use the
simple model previously discussed in section 4. However, the arguments are generally applicable to most airborne
noise problems.










Figure 8.0a: Noise Reduction Concept

In the model shown in figure 8.0a the interior noise level SPLi is related to the radiated noise via:

NR SPL SPL
e i
=

The noise reduction parameter NR is plotted on a 1/3
rd
octave basis and the noise reduction factor usually
increases with frequency as shown in figure 8.0b.
























Figure 8.0 : Airborne Noise Reduction

In this plot the red squares show the typical behavior of NR, while the green squares show the overall trend with a
slope of ~ 8 dB/octave. The actual level depends a little on the test procedures, but is typically about 40 dB at 1000
Hz.

This section will discuss the basic concepts such as transmission loss and absorption coefficient. This leads to the
strategies that may be used to increase NR including:

SPL
i

SPL
e

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A- Av. NR DRE
Average NR
Straight Line Fit
NVH Basics (Intro 8) Noise Reduction and Sound Package Page 2
Author: D. Griffiths Rev. 03/25/2011


- Increasing the mass of sound package materials
- Use of multiple layers
- Careful attention to pass-throughs


8.1 Transmission, Reflection and Absorption

Figure 8.1 shows sound from the powerplant being reduced as it passes through the firewall into the passenger
compartment. The sound is then reflected from the roof, but the level is reduced by absorption.









Figure 8.1: Transmission, Reflection and Absorption

The ultimate sound level is thus determined by the level of transmission and absorption.

8.2 Typical Sound Package Arrangement

Figure 8.2 shows the general concept. Barrier materials reduce transmission and so provide acoustic isolation.
Absorption material then reduces the reflection of sound.











Figure 8.2: Noise Reduction Concept

The location of absorption material is mainly a matter of convenience.


8.3 Key Quantities and Concepts

8.3.1 Transmission Loss

The transmission loss TL and the transmission coefficient relate the radiated sound pressure on the outside of a
barrier (SPLr) to the pressure on the inside (SPLa):


(

= =
t
1
log 10
10 a r
SPL SPL TL


If a barrier consists of multiple sections area Si with different values of and varying exterior pressures its average
effective transmission coefficient can be estimated as:


SPL
e


SPL
e

Insulation Barriers
Absorption Material
Carpet Absorption
NVH Basics (Intro 8) Noise Reduction and Sound Package Page 3
Author: D. Griffiths Rev. 03/25/2011


2
2
i i
i i i
P S
S P
E
E
=
t
t

This means that we should have the best barriers when the exterior sound pressure is highest.

In the case of limp, massive material, such as lead, the transmission loss is given by the mass law:

| | 47 ) ( log 10 ) (
2
10
= f f TL =mass per unit area of barrier

(

=
224
log 20 ) (
10
f
f TL



The high frequency behavior may be improved by creating a sandwich barrier:












Figure 8.3.1: Sandwich Barrier

The transmission coefficient of a hole is unity:

1 =
hole
t

If we have a barrier of area Sb with a barrier transmission coefficient (no hole) b, then a hole of area a changes this
to:

{ }
b
b b b
b
S
a
a S
S
+ = + = t t t
1


Now the typical value of b at 1000 Hz is .0001, and the value is halved every octave. In consequence we can see
that very small holes can severely reduce the high frequency capability of the sound package.

8.3.2 Absorption Coefficient

If the sound power incident on a surface is
2
d
P , and the reflected sound power is
2
r
P , then the absorption
coefficient is :


2
1
(

=
d
r
P
P
o ; Pr = Reflected sound

To a good approximation we can assume that the interior sound field is constant and so the surface averaged value
of can be computes as the average over various interior surfaces weighted by their areas:

Sheet Metal
Septum
Porous Intermediate Layer (Felt)
Mastic Damping Material
NVH Basics (Intro 8) Noise Reduction and Sound Package Page 4
Author: D. Griffiths Rev. 03/25/2011


j
i i
S
S
E
E
=
o
o {This assumes a uniform sound field}

We should of course take the maximum advantages of interior surfaces such as the surface of seats. On the other
hand, certain areas such as the windshield cannot be moved.

The absorption coefficient of damping material tends to be low at low frequency and to increase with frequency
until the wavelength of sound is between and 1/8
th
of the material thickness. The absorption then falls off slowly
with frequency. In general this means that we get more absorption with thicker damping material.

Typical behavior is shown in figure 8.3.2

















Figure 8.3.2: Typical Behavior of Absorption with Frequency and Thickness of Material


8.4 Approximation for NR

Based on the simple model we can give a rough formula for the Noise Reduction Factor based on the barrier and
absorption properties. This formula then allows us to prioritize design factors.


(

+
(

=
b
c
S
S
NR log 10 log 10
t
o
; Sc= Surface area of passenger compartment interior
; Sb= Effective Barrier area

Evidently our task is to minimize and maximize .

To give an example of how this works we consider the following assumptions:

- The average barrier transmission coefficient corresponds to a sandwich barrier, the only important
barriers are the floor and firewall with a total area Sb=2.6 m/sq.

- All the panels have absorption values that vary with frequency like the 25 mm data shown in figure 8.3.2,
but scaled to an average absorption coefficient at 1000 Hz, (1000 Hz)=.4

- We also show the effect of holes = 0.2% of the barrier area.

0
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A
b
s
o
r
p
t
i
o
n

C
o
e
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
Frequency Hz
Material Aprox 25 mm Thick
Material Aprox 50 mm Thick
NVH Basics (Intro 8) Noise Reduction and Sound Package Page 5
Author: D. Griffiths Rev. 03/25/2011



















Figure 8.4: TL of a Sandwich Barrier and NR of Barrier plus Absorption and .2% Hole

Finally, in figure 8.4, we show a comparison of the theoretical estimate for NR with the typical good NR. The actual
sound package is not as good as the theory at high frequencies suggesting that there may be leakage through small
holes. Also, we have assumed average values, there could be local weakness in the sound package which reduce the high
frequency performance.






















Figure 8.4: Comparison of Theory and Practice





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/
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d
B
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Sandwich Barrier TL
Estimated Sound Pack NR
Sound Pack. NR with Holes
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R

d
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Frequency Hz
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holes)
Actual (Good) NR