Vehicle Dynamics & Acoustics

Both users and observers experience vehicles based on their attributes. The most important aspects for vehicle occupants are vehicle safety, comfort and an emotional driving experience. In addition to these aspects, the research area Vehicle Dynamics & Acoustics also investigates the effects of vehicles on their environment through noise emissions and tire wear. The research work can be divided into three main areas: tire properties, chassis functions and acoustics.

Tire Characteristics

One focus of research is the realistic description of tire properties such as handling, vibration and stiffness. A large number of self-developed test rigs are available for this purpose. The data obtained are used to parameterize commercial tire simulation models as well as the institute's own model "TIMIS". The interdisciplinary advancement of these models is in the center of our attention, so that also topics like rolling noise, tire-road-interaction or wear mechanics are investigated.

Chassis Functions

In addition, the research area focuses on a wide range of chassis related topics. In parallel to the design and implementation of innovative suspension and steering concepts for passenger and commercial vehicles, function development takes on a decisive role. By enhancing existing vehicle dynamics control systems or developing completely new safety or dynamics functions, we are shaping the vehicle behavior of the future. Our extensive test bench portfolio and our own test track enable short development cycles that are close to the vehicle.

Acoustics

The third focus - acoustics as a vehicle attribute - is complex due to the different perspectives of users and residents. Noise and vibration are directly responsible for comfort, emotion, perceptibility and noise pollution and are also related to the public perception of a brand and the purchase decision. In order to consider the entire noise effect chain in the vehicle development process, we offer holistic methods with appropriate measurement and simulation-based approaches for every challenge, from the fundamental design of new concepts to problem solving on existing vehicles.