The modelling of the dynamic behaviour of tyre tread blocks

The interaction between tyre and road constitutes the dominant noise source for road vehicles at speeds above 50 km/h. The understanding and control of tyre/road noise generation mechanisms is still one of the main challenges in the field of acoustics, covering a wide area of topics, such as the structure-borne sound properties of tyres, the non-linear contact between tyre and road and the sound radiation from vibrating tyres. The work presented here only covers a small part of this complex field, the modelling of the tread blocks in order to incorporate the dynamic behaviour into a simulation model for a rolling tyre on a rough road. A finite element model is made for individual blocks in order to investigate their first eigenfrequencies and mode shapes. This information is used to build an equivalent model consisting of a simple mass and springs. The equivalent model has the advantage of being handier when coupling to a model of the tyre structure. The impedance coupling method is used. The results of the driving point mobility in the radial and tangential directions to the surface of the block are compared with measurements on tyres. The results show good agreement for the radial direction, while for the tangential direction, the agreement is poor. This is mainly due to the fact that the model for the tyre structure does not include in-plane motion. The results also show that, for the frequency range up to 3 kHz, the influence of the blocks depends strongly on their geometry. The geometry of the tread blocks determines the contact geometry as a kind of macro roughness. It also determines the eigenfrequencies, which for typical tread blocks are expected to be situated, at least, in the range above 2000 Hz.     

Towards a model for electric vehicle noise emission in the European prediction method CNOSSOS-EU

The CNOSSOS-EU method is recommended in Europe for environmental noise prediction. In regards to road traffic, it includes vehicle noise emission models implicitly referring to internal combustion vehicles. The development of electrically driven vehicles calls for the future consideration of these vehicles in prediction models. On the basis of experimental data, the study reported in this paper proposes a noise emission model for extending CNOSSOS-EU to light electric vehicles. Correction terms to be applied to the propulsion noise component are determined. Investigations on a sample of tyres with good rolling resistance performance, which is a main tyre selection criterion on these vehicles, indicated that no correction is required for the rolling noise component. Differences between the noise emission from conventional vehicles and electric vehicles are discussed for several road surfaces. Owing to the limited vehicle sample as well as transitional statements, this new model for electric vehicles running at constant speed over 20 km/h should be considered as a first step towards the definition of this vehicle technology in CNOSSOS-EU.     

On the sound radiation of a rolling tyre

The sound radiation from rolling tyres is still not very well understood. Although details such as horn effect or directivity during rolling have been investigated, it is not clear which vibrational modes of the tyre structure are responsible for the radiated sound power. In this work an advanced tyre model based on Wave Guide Finite Elements is used in connection with a contact model validated in previous work. With these tools the tyre vibrations during rolling on an ISO surface are simulated. Starting from the calculated contact forces in time the amplitudes of the modes excited during rolling are determined as function of frequency. A boundary element model also validated in previous work is applied to predict the sound pressure level on a reference surface around a tyre placed on rigid ground as function of the modal composition of the tyre vibrations. Taking into account different modes when calculating the vibrational field as input into the boundary element calculations, it is possible to identify individual modes or groups of modes of special relevance for the radiated sound power. The results show that mainly low-order modes with relative low amplitudes but high radiation efficiency in the frequency range around 1 kHz are responsible for the radiated sound power at these frequencies, while those modes which are most strongly excited in that frequency range during rolling are irrelevant for the radiated sound power. This fact is very essential when focusing on the design of quieter tyres.     

An experimental procedure to obtain sound power level of tyre/road noise under Coast-By conditions

The rolling noise from tyre–pavement interaction represents the greatest sound contribution from a vehicle when cruising at a high speed. To evaluate the sound levels from this source, existing standardized methods that establish different measurement procedures in both the immediate tyre surroundings, for example the Close-Proximity method, as well as at greater distances, as the Coast-By method. A fundamental parameter that can quantify the sound generation of a source is its sound power level. The standardized methods establish procedures to measure the sound pressure level but not the power level of a tyre as a noise source. For this reason, this paper presents a novel methodology based on sound pressure measurements to obtain the sound power level that a vehicle emits in Coast-By conditions, where noise is generated at tyre/road interaction. The paper describes the testing procedure used to obtain the sound power level, and it is accompanied by a mathematical simulation that studies the feasibility of the proposal. Finally, the proposed methodology is further validated through a field study.     

New vehicle noise emission for French traffic noise prediction

Traffic noise prediction models in France are based on vehicle noise emission values defined by the French Guide du Bruit des Transports Terrestres (Noise Guide for Ground Transport - Noise levels prediction). These emission values are suited for models addressing the noise assessments of road infrastructures and the dimensioning of acoustic protections, needing traffic noise estimations in terms of ?_Aeq over a long period of time (an hour or more).The values, obtained from measurements collected in the 70s, are updated in the publication of a new guide (Methodological Guide, Vehicle noise emissions, to be published), which addresses the road surface influence on tyre/road noise. The emission values are now expressed through the contributions of a power unit component, function of traffic speed, traffic flow type and road declivity, and of a rolling noise component, function of traffic speed and road pavement.The paper outlines the procedures followed to determine the components, gives their numerical values, and illustrates some vehicle noise emissions.     

Statistical tyre/road noise modeling in Hong Kong on friction course

Based on the close proximity (CPX) method specified in ISO/DIS 11819-2, we recorded and analyzed the instantaneous tyre/road sound pressure levels with 9 road sections that are constructed with the same pavement surfacing materials, that is, friction course. A total of 1320 segments were made in urban areas with a pair of SRTT (Standard Road Test Tyre). We tried to relate the tyre/road noise with the instantaneous acceleration, speed, air temperature, road temperature, road gradient, road surface age to develop a multi-variants model. It was subsequently found that a simple tyre/road noise model linking driving speed and acceleration is the best model. The model provides an easy way to estimate the instantaneous tyre/road noise level. As the tyre/road noise is becoming more dominant component of the road traffic noise, our proposed model has the potential to improve the current practice in estimating the road traffic noise.     

Fundamentals and New Frontiers of Bose–Einstein Condensation

A vehicle skids whenever the friction between tyre and road is insufficient to meet the demands of the driver in accelerating, braking, or cornering. In wet weather, when the water film on the road acts as a lubricant, the friction between tyre and road may be greatly reduced. The magnitude of the friction between a tyre and a wet road depends on the physical characteristics of both the road surface and the tyre.

Recent work has shown that when well-lubricated rubber slides over a hard surface, as in the case of a tyre on a wet road, a large part of the frictional resistance may arise from energy losses in the rubber as it is deformed by projections in the hard surface and then recovers. These are the so-called hysteresis losses. Evidence suggests that if the associated practical problems can be solved very worthwhile improvements in skidding friction may be obtained by the use of tyres in which the rubber of the tread has much higher hysteresis losses than the normal tyre tread rubber.     

Experimental study of the noise generated by a passenger automobile equipped with studded and regular snow tyres

Studded snow tyres are used to prevent automobiles from slipping on ice-covered roads. In this paper, the noise generated by a passenger automobile equipped with studded snow tyres is studied and compared with the noise generated when regular snow tyres are used. One-third octave band spectrum analysis reveals the existence of two distinct frequency regions, one above, and the other below, 200 Hz. In the higher frequency region, the spectral levels are dependent on the tyre type. In contrast, in the lower frequency region, the spectral levels are independent of tyre type.     

Measurements and simulation on the comfort of forklifts

In order to determine the influence of some parameters of a forklift such as the road profile, the tyre characteristics, the riding comfort, etc., measurements carried out on a forklift with different tyres and seats were evaluated using different standards and methods. In addition, a simulation model was developed and used to investigate the influence of these parameters. Simulations and test run results showed good agreement.The comparison of the results obtained with several methods of comfort evaluation and a series of tests showed that they nearly all resulted in the same classification. However, the results obtained with different methods could not always be compared among themselves.Solid tyres were found to be more comfortable than pneumatic ones because of their high damping. The negative influence of higher stiffness was smaller than the positive influence of higher damping. The simulations pointed out that for a global general investigation about comfort, the influence of the horizontal tyre stiffness and damping can be neglected. Also the seat characteristics could be linearized. When the stability of the forklift has to be investigated, the horizontal forces must also be considered.     

A modified Close Proximity method to evaluate the time trends of road pavements acoustical performances

The Close Proximity Index (CPX) measurement method is proposed in the ISO/DIS 11819-2:2011 and it aims to evaluate different road pavements with respect to their influence on traffic noise, under conditions when tyre/road noise dominates. In this paper, a modified CPX-based methodology is presented, in order to improve the usefulness of tyre/road noise measurement in the evaluation of acoustical performances of a road surface, in terms of both temporal and spatial stability and in terms of effectiveness of a mitigation action. In particular, the proposed methodology uses a finer spatial resolution and improves the speed-levels relationship knowledge. Moreover, data variability and uncertainty related to tyre/road noise measurement results are here investigated.This paper is conceived within LEOPOLDO project, developed in Tuscany with the aim to study the acoustical characteristics of six new experimental road surfaces, and the proposed methodology has been applied to some of them. The evaluation of the local possible acoustical inhomogeneities of test pavements and a three years long monitoring of the time evolution of their acoustical performances were required by the project. Finally, a new criterion is proposed to make more reliable comparisons (differential criterion) between different road surface types and to better evaluate the temporal evolution.     

Investigating generation mechanisms of tyre/road noise by speed exponent analysis

The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of air-pumping related noise sources on typical tyre/road noise. The aim is to increase the understanding of noise generation mechanisms and catalyse the development of existing tyre/road noise simulation tools. The speed dependency of measured and simulated tyre/road noise is analysed and the results show that a large part of the noise can be explained by a high speed exponent traditionally connected with air-pumping mechanisms. Surprisingly, this is also the case for rough road surfaces which are expected to mainly generate noise by tyre vibrations. It is also found that vehicle wind noise may have a strong influence on the pass-by noise and care must be taken when analysing measurement data of quiet tyre/road combinations. Even simulated tyre/road noise shows higher speed exponents than what is anticipated without the inclusion of any type of air-pumping mechanism in the model. It is concluded that it is unfeasible to separate noise created by tyre vibrations from noise created by air-pumping with a speed exponent analysis due to the overlap in the speed exponents connected with the different generation mechanisms.     

A road traffic noise pattern simulation model that includes distributions of vehicle sound power levels

Annoyance, sleep disturbance and other health effects of road traffic noise exposure may be related to both level and number of noise events caused by traffic, not just to energy equivalent measures of exposure. Dynamic traffic noise prediction models that include instantaneous vehicle noise emissions can be used to estimate either of these measures. However, current state-of-the-art vehicle noise emission models typically consider a single emission law for each vehicle category, whereas measurements show that the variation in noise emission between vehicles within the same category can be considerable. It is essential that the influence of vehicles that are producing significantly more (or less) noise than the average vehicle are taken into account in modeling in order to correctly predict the levels and frequency of occurrence of road traffic noise events, and in particular to calculate indicators that characterize these noise events. Here, an approach for predicting instantaneous sound levels caused by road traffic is presented, which takes into account measured distributions of sound power levels produced by individual vehicles. For the setting of a receiver adjacent to a dual-lane road carrying free flow traffic, the effect of this approach on estimated percentile levels and sound event indicators is investigated.     

Developing a Hong Kong based speed correction factor by CPX method

A systematic procedure for developing speed correction factor to adjust measured tyre/road noise is proposed in this paper. The draft ISO/CD 11819-2 on the Close-Proximity method to measure tyre/road noise stipulates that speed correction is needed to convert the tyre/road noise level at the sampling speeds to that at the reference speeds. However, the ISO standard does not mention the exact methodology for developing the speed correction factor development, although it recommends local authorities to develop their own. In this study, the tyre/road noise and speed data over 59 runs on a high speed porous asphalt surface is recorded by our CPX trailer in Hong Kong. The instantaneous noise and speed data are then analysed using this proposed procedure and the set of speed correction factor developed is found to be more stable and repeatable.     

A waveguide finite element aided analysis of the wave field on a stationary tyre, not in contact with the ground

Although tyre/road noise has been a research subject for more than three decades, there is still no consensus in the literature as to which waves on a tyre are mainly responsible for the radiation of sound during rolling. Even the free vibrational behaviour of a stationary (non-rotating) tyre, not in contact with the ground, is still not well understood in the mid- and high-frequency ranges. Thus, gaining an improved understanding of this behaviour is a natural first step towards illuminating the question of which waves on a rolling tyre contribute to sound radiation. This is the topic of the present paper, in which a model based on the waveguide finite element method (WFEM) is used to study free wave propagation, on a stationary tyre, in the range 0-1500 Hz. In the low-frequency region (0-300 Hz), wave propagation is found to be rather straightforward, with two main wave-types present. Both have cross-section modes involving a nearly rigid motion of the belt. For higher frequencies (300-1500 Hz) the behaviour is more complex, including phenomena such as ‘curve veering’ and waves for which the phase speed and group speed have opposite signs. Wave-types identified in this region include (i) waves involving mainly sidewall deformation, (ii) belt bending waves, (iii) a wave with significant extensional deformation of the central belt region and (iv) a wave with a ‘breathing’ cross-section mode. The phase speed corresponding to found waves is computed and their radiation efficiency is discussed, assuming free-field conditions. In a future publication, the tyre model will be used in conjunction with a contact model and a radiation model to investigate the contribution of these waves to radiated sound during rolling.     

Road traffic noise—The influence of the road surface and its characterization

Unacceptable errors in the prediction of traffic noise occur in some cases when the road surface is largely different from that on which the prediction model is based. The reason is that tyre/road noise has appeared to be the dominating component of the noise from free-flowing traffic and that this noise is to a substantial extent dependent on the road surface.The mechanisms for tyre/road noise generation and its relation to road characteristics are described. Relevant road surface characterization methods are suggested. The major method is the measurement of the road texture profile and subsequent spectral analysis of the profile curve. Supplementary methods concern the measurement of acoustical and mechanical impedances. It is concluded that the road surface effect on traffic noise is extremely complicated and that it is very difficult to generalize any simple relations.For free-flowing traffic it is shown that the tested road surface types and conditions may influence the traffic noise by up to 11 dB(A). This calls for a correction term for the road surface in the prediction models. Despite the complicated relations, it appears feasible—within stringent limitations—to use a table where the correction term is a variable of vehicle type, vehicle speed as well as road surface type and condition.     

Statistical classification of road pavements using near field vehicle rolling noise measurements

Low noise surfaces have been increasingly considered as a viable and cost-effective alternative to acoustical barriers. However, road planners and administrators frequently lack information on the correlation between the type of road surface and the resulting noise emission profile. To address this problem, a method to identify and classify different types of road pavements was developed, whereby near field road noise is analyzed using statistical learning methods. The vehicle rolling sound signal near the tires and close to the road surface was acquired by two microphones in a special arrangement which implements the Close-Proximity method. A set of features, characterizing the properties of the road pavement, was extracted from the corresponding sound profiles. A feature selection method was used to automatically select those that are most relevant in predicting the type of pavement, while reducing the computational cost. A set of different types of road pavement segments were tested and the performance of the classifier was evaluated. Results of pavement classification performed during a road journey are presented on a map, together with geographical data. This procedure leads to a considerable improvement in the quality of road pavement noise data, thereby increasing the accuracy of road traffic noise prediction models.     

Monitoring road surfaces by close proximity noise of the tire/road interaction

Applied acoustics is becoming an important field for civil infrastructure and environmental assessment, and road maintenance or rehabilitation strategies. In this research LA(2)IC has developed a GPS-based measurement techniques and apparatus on a test vehicle, for monitoring the acoustical properties of different road pavement surfaces with a reference tire. A field test on PA-12 Spanish porous pavement found in Ciudad Real is developed. The test procedure, a modification based upon the close-proximity method (CPX), relies on the use of three standard microphones situated very close to the tire/road contact patch. This procedure allows the simultaneous measurement of the sound emission synchronized to a GPS receiver, which permits tracking of the position of the sound emission. Geo-referenced sound spectra for every 10 m during individual passes of the test vehicle are analyzed to determine the tire/road noise emissions from tire/PA-12 pavement interaction. Noise levels of around 102 dB(A), with a variability of approximately 0.6 dB(A), are found at a reference vehicle speed of 85 kmh. The frequency spectrum analysis over the test section shows noticeable differences for frequencies above 1 kHz, where the tire/road noise generation mechanisms are dominated by air pumping.     

Commercial road vehicle noise

A survey of the characteristics of the noise emitted by commercial vehicles has been made. The most important single parameter determining the noise of a modern diesel-engined vehicle is the engine speed. All of the other parameters such as load, road speed, etc., have only a secondary effect.The sources of noise on the vehicle are reviewed and it is shown how the characteristics of these sources determine the overall noise characteristics of the vehicle. It has been found that a simple model of the vehicle as a number of coincident point sources predicts the overall noise characteristics of the vehicle to ±2 dB(A). It is shown that there are two extremes of behaviour, the rolling noise controlled vehicle and the power unit noise controlled vehicle; the engine is currently the controlling noise source.Tyre noise has been investigated in some detail as comparatively little has been published previously on this source. Empirical relationships between the tyre noise and speed, tyre size and road surface roughness are given. It is concluded that tyre noise is generated by impacting between elements of the tyre tread and elements of the road surface.Modifications have been made to the engine, exhaust, intake and cooling fan of a 9 ton, 6 litre diesel engined truck which have reduced its ISO test noise level from 88 dB(A) to 80 dB(A). However, it is concluded that 80 dB(A) commercial vehicles are not yet feasible for production. In particular insufficient is known about cooling fan design.Finally cab noise has been investigated and it has been found to originate from the same source as the exterior noise, power unit airborne noise. Therefore any modifications to the power unit to reduce exterior noise will have a similar effect on interior noise. This is confirmed by the vehicle modifications mentioned above which reduced the maximum cab noise from 87 dB(A) to 79 dB(A).