Prediction and Sound Quality Analysis of Tire Pattern Noise Based on System Identification by Utilizing an Optimal Adaptive Filter

Identifying the cause of vehicle noise is a basic requirement for the development of low-noise vehicles. The tire pattern noise depends on the tire itself and causes complex and unpredictable sounds. In pneumatic tire pattern design, the prediction technology of the tire pattern noise according to pattern shape design is important. The conventional method of predicting tire pattern noise is to simply scan the pattern shape of tire and to analyze its spectrum. However, this method has limitations because it does not consider the transfer function and precise mechanism of tire pattern noise. In this study, adaptive filter theory was applied to identify the transfer function between the grooves of patterns and measured acoustic data. To predict the waveform of an actual pattern noise in the time domain, the impulse response of this transfer function was convolved by the scanned pattern input of tires. The predicted waveform of pattern noise was validated with the waveforms of measured noise data. Finally, a sound quality index (SQI) of tire pattern noise was developed using the measured pattern noises and was applied to estimate the sound quality of pattern noise. Eventually, using the prediction method from this study, we hope to reduce the time and cost spent on tire pattern design and verification.