Statistical Energy Analysis Model and Connectors for Automotive Vibration Isolation Mounts

Abstract Consumer comfort is a top priority in today’s vehicle design. Reduction of noise and vibration enhances comfort and improves the overall quality of the vehicle. Linear elastic vibration isolation mounts are traditionally applied within complex structures to combat noise and vibration. Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) is becoming an established and tested noise and vibration modeling methodology that is frequently used to model the flow of noise and vibration in complex structures. A SEA model of a linear elastic vibration isolation mount is developed here which enables SEA analysis of elastically isolated systems for the first time. A vibration isolation mount model has been absent from SEA models because of the lack of an SEA formulation. Linear elastic vibration isolation mount SEA equations are developed here for the first time. The basis of SEA theory is energy sharing among vibrational mode groups. Traditionally, vibration isolation mounts were thought of as compliant elements with no modes suitable to SEA analysis. An example mount is defined and the number of energy storage modes computed. The results show that a linear elastic vibration isolation mount should be modeled in SEA analysis and provide the equations for a SEA isolation mount model. Also included is the analysis for three unique SEA connectors, a mount to acoustic volume connector, a beam to mount connector, and a mount to flat plate connector.