NVH Engineer
03-2014 - OraEnergia / Materiali / Meccanica My activities are focused on NVH Vehicle production but they are strictly connected with the quality of that production. In fact, these activities are related to acoustical or vibrational aspects according to the quality of the product but also according to production and maintenance as well. This is to say that cost reduction or value optimization activities are carried out.
I have been and currently am involved in various projects which take me periodically on business trips to the Cassino Plant for measuring and analyzing problems detected in the Alfa Romeo vehicle according to the NVH team's point of view. The last one, the Giorgio project, involved working on the new model, Giulia, and the new SUV both of which are Alfa Romeo products. I am part of the NVH team for the development of the car with respect to all the target features from the NVH point of view. I am also involved in these aspects as well as the noise due to the electrical car locks.
Another project in which I am involved deals with the development of the 3-cylinder engine with particular attention to choosing the best strategy of balancing the engine in order to ensure less vibration on the seat rail while the vehicle is both idling and while changing gears.
I often have been involved in activities with the quality team of the Melfi Plant. One such case was my involvement in diagnosing some problems the quality team had reported in working with the Jeep Renegade. My objective was to find the most efficient way of solving issues the quality team had listed for review and resolution. I give the same type of support to the quality team at the Atessa Plant regarding commercial vehicles such as Ducato, likewise addressing acoustical and vibration issues.
My daily responsibilities take place in the Pomigliano Research Center in which I work on all models of the Group FCA (including Panda, 500, Ypsilon etc.). My task there is to carry out vibroacoustic validation of vehicle components, seeing that they are built according to FCA standard. I make both objective and subjective tests in order to correlate the acoustic measurements to human auditory perception (psychoacoustics).
It is important to note that the tests are performed in rooms specifically designed to evaluate specific aspects of the vehicles. To be more specific, the rooms utilized are as follow: a simple modal room, a semi anechoic room, (including a dyno bench) and, lastly, the so called coupled room (one anechoic and one reverberant), which is used for measuring transmission loss. Of note, an additional room is sometimes used; it is known as a four poster. There the vehicle is made to vibrate in such a way that an analysis can be made of what is termed “squeak and rattle”.
I am also involved in modal analysis and sound insulation measures on a complete vehicle. This would include validation of acoustic sound-absorbing materials in the alpha cabin through alpha software dedicated to the alpha cabin (Autoneum, ex Rieter).
My additional responsibilities are to perform some tests including for example: acquisition of the acoustic pressure radiated from the powertrain, measuring of the steering wheel vibrations of external and internal vehicle noise, the noise level of the exhaust end, noise closing doors, the noise level of the starter motor, noise and vibrations from compressors for air conditioning. These activities have a double purpose: the first is to detect the main sources of noise and vibration and subsequently study and reduce transmission both in the vehicle, to ensure the customer a comfortable product in terms of vibro-acoustic. The second one is that the set of tests in the development phase leads to the definition of target values (thresholds approved) NVH.
Acquisitions and elaborations of signals are done principally with LMS Testlab software and sometimes with Artemis Suite.
Lastly, as I the tasks are completed, I am responsible for the development of reports that give a clear description of the activity performed and the results that were obtained.