The Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) technology is used to reduce the noise in cars. The noises and vibrations in a car are produced by internal or external factors and in turn, decrease the ride quality. Throughout the decades, automotive brands have worked for various configurations of technology to improve in-cabin comfort.
That said, Automotive NVH technology is used in all vehicles, whether electric or conventional to provide a quality ride experience. Let’s go through the details of the NVH technology and its benefits.
What is NVH in Cars?
NVH refers to “Noise, Vibration and Harshness”- the disruptive noises produced by a vehicle during a journey. NVH in a car can be caused by the faulty parts of the car engine or it can be due to external factors such as road or wind noise.
To solve this problem, NVH technology is used in vehicles to reduce those effects. It involves regulating the engine speed, controlling suspension movement and coordinating braking.
Causes of NVH
Certain factors play a role when it comes to noise disruption in a car. They can be the squealing of car brakes or the movement of sliding components such as the sunroof, seats or windows. Put simply, whenever there is an interaction between two friction surfaces, there will be some noise or vibration.
The following are the most common causes of NVH in a car:
- the movement of airflow around the car when it moves forward
- interaction of the tyres with the road surface
- car’s engine and drivetrain components
However, in electric cars, the absence of engine results in no squeaks or rattles. But, there are other components which cause NVH such as cooling fans, mounting brakes, doors and brakes.
What is NVH Testing?
The core purpose of NVH testing is to check the inadequacies of a vehicle to improve its performance. It also helps to improve the NVH level of a vehicle. Following are the different types of NVH tests:
- Idle Test: Testing is performed when the vehicle is started to measure the idle NVH experienced by the occupants.
- Acceleration Test: The car is accelerated to the legal speed limit and the in-cabin disruption is tested.
- Constant Speed Test: The NVH which is measured at the constant speed is compared to the NVH measured at a varying range of speeds.
- Coast Test: The NVH is measured when the car is slowing down or is in a coasting condition.
- Wind Noise Test: The NVH is measured when the car is sped up to 100km/hr to check the impact of the wind on the vehicle.
The NVH level of a car is an element when it comes to NVH testing. A low NVH motor-powered vehicle has a measured acceleration noise of less than 67 dB. When it surpasses 68 dB, the level must be adjusted to ensure an adequate level of comfort.
How to Improve NVH Level?
The NVH technology has evolved over the years for all car types. Many NVH-related solutions have been introduced to tackle the problem. That said, there are many ways to reduce the noises in your car and improve its NVH level.
Some of them are:
- Use foam noise absorbers and tuned vibration dampers.
- Use rubber panel plugs to cover the car panel’s openings.
- The right type of car tyre also impacts its NVH level depending on the grooves and the voids in them.
- Attach a muffler to the car’s exhaust.
- Add dampeners to the car’s flooring to reduce vibration
- Opt for an active road noise cancellation feature
This is all on the NVH technology in cars. Many automotive brands have adopted the latest advancements in this technology to provide a high-quality driving experience. Therefore, make sure to check these specifications before you buy a used car in the UAE.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on different car features and technology.
Related Posts
