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Wave good-bye to NVH.

Article Excerpt
Wave good-bye to NVH

by Michelle EauClaire

NVH is one problem that requires many different solutions. Component manufacturers and OEMs are working together to solve NVH, piece by piece.

There are a lot of safety issues for an operator to watch for: falling objects, fire, debris, holes and dozens more. But how do you protect an operator from something he can't see?

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) is a serious health issue facing operators, but bigger ear plugs and thicker seat cushions aren't going to solve it alone. When deciding how to conquer the NVH forces, it may be best to know what the sources of noise, vibration and harshness are.

Vehicle noise can derive from a variety of places -- engine, muffler, fan, hydraulic system, accessories such as gears, chains and other vibrating components -- and each system has a multitude of noise reducing solutions.

Perception of noise directly influences a customer's acceptance of a product. "The overall noise level of our products is the parameter that is documented in product literature, but it's the customer's perception of sound quality that is the true measure of perceived product quality," says Mike Beyer, technical specialist -- NVH, Eaton Corp., Eden Prairie, MN.

Noise is a wave

Noise: According to NVHmaterials.com, both structural borne and airborne noise have two unique ways of treatment. Structure borne noise is solved through means of damping (no, not dampening, there's no need to get anything wet) and isolation. Airborne noise can be blocked by barriers (walls, thick glass) or reduced by absorbers, such as foam insulators.

Vibration: Whole body vibration (WBV) deals with the transmission of vibration into the human body and the effects that vibration can have on an operator in the short- and long-term.

Shock vibration is a more jarring and unpredictable vibration that may occur while driving over a rut or hole causing an immediate effect or injury in the short-term to the operator.

Harshness: The human perception of noise, or vibration, or a combination of the two, that cannot be measured directly in engineering units. Each person has his or her own opinion about...

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