Altair Case Studies Energy Finite Element Analysis by MES: A Solution for Controlling Interior Automotive Noise

	Energy Finite Element Analysis by MES: A Solution for Controlling Interior Automotive Noise Altair

Energy Finite Element Analysis by MES: A Solution for Controlling Interior Automotive Noise

Altair

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries	Automotive Chemicals
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Vehicle Performance Monitoring
Services	System Integration
Challenge	Michigan Engineering Services, LLC (MES), a research and development company specializing in commercial software and advanced technology for engineering simulations, was faced with a challenge from automotive companies. These companies needed to control the airborne noise generated within the interior of a vehicle due to external sources such as motors, engines, transmissions, and tires. The goal was to achieve the least amount of noise with minimal penalties in cost and weight. The challenge was that conventional Finite Element Analysis (FEA) methods, used for simulations up to 8KHz to 10KHz (the typical upper frequencies of interest for airborne noise), were either computationally expensive or infeasible due to the small size of finite elements required to model the vehicle at such high frequencies. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is Michigan Engineering Services, LLC (MES), a research and development company that specializes in developing commercial software and advanced technology for engineering simulations. MES operates in both the defense and commercial industrial sectors. Through its engineering services, MES facilitates an efficient technology transition to its customers. In this particular case, MES was working with automotive companies that needed to control the airborne noise generated within the interior of their vehicles due to various external sources. Read More
Solution	MES developed a solution using Energy Finite Element Analysis (EFEA). The EFEA requires a smaller number of elements in the model because the new primary variables are based on the energy of the structural vibration and of the acoustic field. The EFEA uses a library of elements (similar to the FEA) for modeling any physical system and a library of joints (similar to the coupling loss factors in Statistical Energy Analysis) for representing the power transfer mechanisms which exist in the system. The EFEA model can be developed using the same tools (i.e., Altair HyperMesh™) and by following a process similar to developing FEA models. Due to the significantly fewer elements required compared to FEA, alternative designs can be evaluated rapidly enough to influence the design. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Chemicals

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Vehicle Performance Monitoring

Services

System Integration

Challenge

Michigan Engineering Services, LLC (MES), a research and development company specializing in commercial software and advanced technology for engineering simulations, was faced with a challenge from automotive companies. These companies needed to control the airborne noise generated within the interior of a vehicle due to external sources such as motors, engines, transmissions, and tires. The goal was to achieve the least amount of noise with minimal penalties in cost and weight. The challenge was that conventional Finite Element Analysis (FEA) methods, used for simulations up to 8KHz to 10KHz (the typical upper frequencies of interest for airborne noise), were either computationally expensive or infeasible due to the small size of finite elements required to model the vehicle at such high frequencies.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is Michigan Engineering Services, LLC (MES), a research and development company that specializes in developing commercial software and advanced technology for engineering simulations. MES operates in both the defense and commercial industrial sectors. Through its engineering services, MES facilitates an efficient technology transition to its customers. In this particular case, MES was working with automotive companies that needed to control the airborne noise generated within the interior of their vehicles due to various external sources.

Solution

MES developed a solution using Energy Finite Element Analysis (EFEA). The EFEA requires a smaller number of elements in the model because the new primary variables are based on the energy of the structural vibration and of the acoustic field. The EFEA uses a library of elements (similar to the FEA) for modeling any physical system and a library of joints (similar to the coupling loss factors in Statistical Energy Analysis) for representing the power transfer mechanisms which exist in the system. The EFEA model can be developed using the same tools (i.e., Altair HyperMesh™) and by following a process similar to developing FEA models. Due to the significantly fewer elements required compared to FEA, alternative designs can be evaluated rapidly enough to influence the design.

Impact #1	The implementation of the Energy Finite Element Analysis (EFEA) by MES has yielded successful results. The simulation results have been compared successfully to test data multiple times for production vehicles. This has allowed for the identification of the most effective utilization of treatment. The EFEA model, due to its significantly fewer required elements compared to the conventional Finite Element Analysis (FEA), has enabled rapid evaluation of alternative designs, thereby influencing the design process in a timely manner.

Impact #1

The implementation of the Energy Finite Element Analysis (EFEA) by MES has yielded successful results. The simulation results have been compared successfully to test data multiple times for production vehicles. This has allowed for the identification of the most effective utilization of treatment. The EFEA model, due to its significantly fewer required elements compared to the conventional Finite Element Analysis (FEA), has enabled rapid evaluation of alternative designs, thereby influencing the design process in a timely manner.

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Overview

Energy Finite Element Analysis by MES: A Solution for Controlling Interior Automotive Noise

Operational Impact