Abstract:

The fundamentals of the transfer path analysis(TPA) was introduced, the trasfer paths from the road surface excitation through vehicle suspension and body to the acceleration of vertical vibration of the floor under the driver seat were analyzed using software LMS/TPA. The vehicle road test and the indoor hammering test were performed to elucidate the vibration transfer paths. The dominant transfer path in the suspension system that affects the vehicle ride comfort most was identified. The results show that the contribution of the rear point of the right lower control arm of the front suspension to the Z-direction vibration acceleration of the floor under the driver seat is significant, especially in Y-direction. In order to enhance the vehicle ride comfort, the focus should concentrate at the improvement of isolation performance of the bushing in the lower control arm rear point of the front suspension. The TPA method can identify both of the contribution amplitude of every transfer path and the phase relation among each contribution amplitude. It provides a basis for the vibration isolation design of the bushings between the junctions of the vehicle body and suspension.

Key words: vehicle engineering, ride comfort, transfer path analysis (TPA), vibration source identification, partial contribution