Automotive and Marine Group

The Automotive and Marine Group of ISVR Consulting is a dedicated group of engineers and technicians specialising in the noise and vibration issues specific to the automotive industry, though these skills extend naturally to the marine and general rotating machinery disciplines.

The group known previously as the “Automotive Design Advisory Unit” or ADAU now prefers to operate under its ISVR identity, as it is the group’s specialisation in sound and vibration which makes it unique amongst automotive consultants.

For over 35 years we have been involved in all aspects of automotive NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) and other closely related automotive activities.

The group operates 4 semi-anechoic test cells, which can be flexibly configured to work on anything from a model aircraft engine to a 600 HP truck engine. We also have dedicated vehicle test facilities including two free-field chassis dynamometers.

Although routine noise and vibration measurement is regularly carried out, the group's main expertise lies in more advanced research, in particular the development of new test and prediction techniques and methodologies, and longer term investigations, which would not be appropriate within the high turn-around facilities of OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

An increasing activity is assisting suppliers to gain the technology and expertise that they now require to meet the demands of their customers, the vehicle manufacturers.

In addition to the core task of noise and vibration measurement and vehicle development, the group also actively produces advanced engineering software and the instrumentation required to support the new techniques which are being developed.

Although a very small amount of the groups work is published, the vast majority is conducted in total confidentiality.

A small selection of recent projects includes: -

Exhaust system design optimisation for marine diesel engines
Studies of exhaust noise propagation over water
Advanced optimisation of engine valve cover design
Extensive studies of diesel combustion force propagation through engine structures
Noise reduction on seat motors and pumps for highly refined vehicles
Quantification of tyre contact patch acoustic strengths
Techniques for assessing engine, exhaust and tyre patch transfer functions for exterior and interior noise
Development of acoustic resonators to control panel boom in vans
On-road measurement of front-end accessory drive resonance during transient road tests
Fundamental chain noise studies
The SoundBoat project

Further information from the Automotive and Marine Group is available on:

If you require any further information please contact:

Dave Rhodes
ISVR Consulting
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
UK

E-mail: dmr@isvr.soton.ac.uk
Tel (+44) 023 8076 8533
Fax(+44) 023 8076 0093