Audi implements LMS Test.Lab for higher productivity in NVH testing

Over the past decades, Audi has run a consistent and succesful strategy of delivering vehicles with superior comfort and sound quality. As a longstanding user of LMS testing systems, Audi has migrated to the LMS Test.Lab software suite and decided to implement multiple NVH testing systems for lab and field-testing based on the LMS SCADAS III data acquisition front-end. During the extensive evaluation of LMS Test.Lab, NVH engineers at Audi particularly valued the integration of all NVH applications in a single software suite, the productivity and ease-of-use of the integrated process workflow within LMS Test.Lab, and the flexible power of the LMS SCADAS III data acquisition platform.

Audi successfully developed high standards of vehicle NVH engineering and successfully mastered the capability to market a diverse range of vehicles – from the sporty Audi TT to the top-class A8 limousine – with a specific comfort and sound profile. Through this major investment in NVH testing systems, Audi wants to strengthen the capability of its NVH engineering teams to tackle the increasing flow and complexity of NVH engineering work, and to continue developing distinct comfort and sound “packages” for the Audi car lines.

In 2003, Audi started the selection process for a complete replacement of NVH testing systems for its testing laboratories and the technology development centers in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. The choice of LMS Test.Lab is largely driven by its tight integration of all data acquisition, analysis and reporting tasks, and the complete coverage of structural, acoustic, and rotating machinery testing processes. In addition, the workflow-based interface of LMS Test.Lab, and its capabilities to incorporate customized testing procedures, was a perfect match for Audi’s strongly standardized measurement and analysis procedures. By incorporating these in LMS Test.Lab, Audi will be able to reach optimal efficiency and high data quality. In the meantime, Audi users already experienced the productivity of working with the same easy-to-use interface for all applications, and the flexibility of using the same testing system for laboratory and proving ground testing. In addition, they particularly value the German user interface that supports their day-to-day testing and analysis tasks.

As part of the agreement, Audi acquired multiple LMS SCADAS III laboratory-based and mobile systems. The optimal combination of performance, scalability and flexibility made LMS SCADAS III the best-suited platform for Audi’s requirements. LMS SCADAS III is designed for NVH applications, and tightly integrates with LMS Test.Lab for optimal speed and quality in data acquisition. The mobile SCADAS III systems allow Audi engineers to perform more analyses during test runs, acquire data with higher-quality standards, and get more value out of field-testing campaigns. The modularity of the systems combined with the large choice of signal conditioning modules enables them to flexibly use the system for a broad spectrum of measurements: noise, vibration, torsion, strain, etc. Users at Audi can reconfigure the channel count and signal conditioning of their LMS SCADAS III system on the fly, without having to send the system back to LMS for re-calibration.

“Considering the market positioning of Audi, vehicle attributes, such as comfort and sound quality, have become key targets within our development process. The sound of an Audi, its comfort and dynamic behavior must meet the expectations generated by its design. NVH engineering at Audi therefore strongly focuses on creating the optimal sound and comfort package for each individual Audi model,” commented Dr. Ralf Kunkel and Karl Hofer, current and former Head of the Acoustics Engineering Department at Audi. “Taking into account the complexity of NVH engineering, we did not limit our selection criteria to the technical specification of the new testing system. We also decided to look for a supplier with a solid experience in NVH engineering, with capabilities to assist us in the transition to the new system, and with a strong offering in virtual simulation for NVH. Taking all of this into account, LMS represents the best choice.”