Home page Testing Noise, vibration & harshness

Noise, vibration and harshness testing and simulation

Ricardo has provided Noise and Vibration Services for over 40 years specialising in Automotive, Marine and other transport industries.

Ricardo NVH has teams based at Shoreham, Leamington, Italy, China and Germany
NVH simulation capabilities include intake and exhaust, base engine, powertrain mounting, driveline, e-machine, pass-by, road noise and gear whine

Below you will find more information about our state-of-the-art test facilities

Powertrain anechoic test facilities

Three flexible powertrain semi-anechoic test cells enable the NVH testing of a wide variety of passenger car, heavy duty, electric or hybrid powertrains. Rigs are also available for system characterisation, for example on transmissions, electric motors and FEAD.

Typical specification of the powertrain cells:

Dimensions: 7m x 6m x 3.5m
Cut-off: 100Hz (ISO 3745)
Wedge Spec: 0.7m Fire Resistant Graphite Loaded Open Cell Foam (DX30F)
Background Noise: PNC35

Absorption Capabilities:

Borghi & Severi FE900
4100Nm from 400rpm
662kW @ 1500rpm

Vehicle anechoic test facility

Anechoic treatment

IAC Metadyne perforated metallic wedge with acoustically absorbent filling
63Hz anechoic cut-off frequency

Dynamometer

Fully-regenerative (four quadrant) AC drive system
Dynamotive DCS.7 control system for road load simulation, speed and torque control
Motoring up to 300kW 5300Nm and absorbing up to 340kW 6100Nm
Speed up to 200km/h, Axle capability up to 2000Kg and 200kW cell ventilation heat rejection
High intensity 500 lux LED lighting

Ricardo engineers provide a full NVH services including:

Branding
Concept studies
Risk management
Design support
Simulation
Development
Validation
Launch Support