NVH - Noise, Vibration and Harshness
What does NVH mean?
Noise, vibration and harshness - NVH, is also referred to as noise and vibration.
Noise, vibration and harshness is an engineering activity where noise and vibration characteristics are adjusted for operator comfort and perception, originally in the automotive industry, but is now useful in other industries.
Where is NVH used?
Noise, vibration and harshness originated in and is associated mainly with the automotive industry. The harshness of a vehicle under development gauges the vibration and noise that the driver experiences while driving the vehicle.
How does noise, vibration and harshness complement each other?
To change the noise and vibration and the perception thereof, both the vibration and noise must be modified.
However, vibration frequencies between 20Hz and 20kHz are audible if the noise radiated off the vibrating surfaces is great enough to be audible above other background noise frequencies.
Therefore, the harshness can be engineered by modifying the vibration, and consequently the noise, albeit for road and wind noise at a stretch.
When is NVH refinement challenging?
In the automotive industry, when a car is designed and developed, there are engineering divisions that get priority on the design of the car, and is usually in this order:
Styling
Aerodynamics
Ride and comfort
Powertrain
and other areas less important to car performance.
Considering these design and development departments, if the NVH is not desirable and must change, this could only be possible if the higher priority departments are open to changes. Otherwise manipulation of the noise and vibration by devices are required, i.e. attenuators in exhaust systems to get a favourable sound.
However, this approach is not optimum! As modification is complex, time consuming and costly.
How do we help our customers with NVH?
NVH is not just for the automotive industry, although many pages on the internet make you believe that it is.
We have performed extensive research in vibration and noise radiation to make comfort for the operator a priority by identifying the design parameters to achieve the best NVH for designs and products.
There are many equipment and machinery that expose operators to uncomfortable and harsh conditions that can be engineered from the start and during development to provide favourable conditions.
Research and Case Studies
Refinement of truck cabs
Research into the design parameters that influence the noise and vibration quality
Finite Element Modelling of an electric power steering unit
Refinement of an electric power steering unit for cars to achieve the optimum sound levels
Further Information
As a mechanical engineering consultancy experienced in manipulating vibration and noise radiation, we can help you achieve the NVH qualities that you want in your final product.
If you would like to know more about how we improve noise, vibration and harshness, all it takes is an email or a phone call to ascertain how we can help.