Active Structure Acoustic Control for a Truck Oil Pan

Abstract

The oil pan of large diesel engine trucks is a significant contributor of external noise radiation. Especially at lower frequencies below 500 Hz, this undesired broadband noise cannot be treated effectively by passive measures due to weight and size restrictions. Augmenting such systems with an Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) system is a promising way to effectively damp the sound radiation at critical frequency ranges. Such a system was to be realized within the European Union (EU) project “Intelligent materials for Active Noise Reduction” (InMAR) for the oil pan of a Volvo MD13 truck engine. Piezoceramic patch actuators have been used in a laboratory test stand to alter the vibrations in a broadband noise reduction manner. This section discusses the actuator placement strategy and how to obtain an estimation of the broadband sound power minimization capability. Finally the chosen actuator layout was validated by experimental observations of a serial production oil pan.