Vehicle Disc Brake Roughness Noise : Experimental Study of the Interior Noise andVibro-Acoustic Modelling of Suspension Systems

Abstract: Prediction of vehicle disc brake roughness noise is a non-trivial challenge. In fact, neither the source mechanisms, nor the transfer paths are so far well understood. Traditionally, disc brake noise problems are studied as part of the friction-induced noise field, where the source is considered to be a more or less local phenomenon related to the brake disc and brake pad. However, for the roughness noise of interest here this viewpoint is not adequate when attempting to solve the interior noise problem since the transfer of vibro-energy from the brake into the vehicle body is a crucial aspect and plays an important role in the understanding and solution to the problem. The vibroacoustic energy transfer associated with the brake roughness noise is a problem where geometrical complexity and material combinations, including rubber bushings, pose an intricate modelling problem. Additionally, system altering effects from moving parts and loadings are important, e.g. due to the steering or brake systems. In addition, the source mechanisms themselves must also be understood to be able to solve the problem. The current work constitutes a combined experimental and theoretical investigation, aiming at an increased understanding of the source, the transfer paths and how they are a affected by change in the operational state. The experimental study of the vehicle disc brake roughness noise, is based on measurements conducted in a laboratory using a complete passenger car. It is found that the interior noise is a structural-borne broadband noise event well correlated to vehicle speed and brake pressure. The results suggest that the friction source may be divided into vibrations created in the sliding direction and vibrations created normal to the contact plane, where the sliding direction levels appear to be proportional to brake pressure according to Coulomb’s friction law; the vibration level in the normal direction of the contact plane on the other hand has behaviour proportional to Hertz contact theory. The measurements also indicate that the brake force created carried by the suspension system when braking will also alter the vibro-acoustic response of the system. To facilitate the theoretical simulations, an approach for modelling of the suspension system is developed. The vibro-acoustic transfer path model developed is using a modal based on the Craig-Bampton method where a restriction on the coupling modes is suggested. The approach suggested uses undeformed coupling interfaces, to couple structures of fundamentally different stiffness such as may be the case in a vehicle suspension system where for instance rubber bushings are combined with steel linking arms. The approach show great potential inreducing computational cost compared to the classical Craig-Bampton method.