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There has always been a challenge to reduce product development time and costs due to physical prototyping. This technical paper details a novel approach used to develop aspects of the ride comfort performance for a luxury cabriolet vehicle. The approach makes use of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) techniques to predict the ride comfort performance differences due to a change in specification and then uses a physical reproduction technique so that the customer can assess the effect of those specification changes. Specifically, the vehicle is created in CAE using all of the dynamic characteristics that influence the ride comfort performance such as mounting characteristics, rigid body mechanical properties and, particularly important in the case of the Cabriolet car, body structural performance. Specification change filters are then created in simulation that helps assessment of the effects on performance.

Computer modelling, virtual prototyping and simulation is widely used in the automotive industry to optimize the development process. While the use of CAE is widespread, on its own it lacks the ability to provide observable acoustics or tactile vibrations for decision makers to assess, and hence optimize the customer experience. Subjective assessment using Driver-in-Loop simulators to experience data has been shown to improve the quality of vehicles and reduce development time and uncertainty. Efficient development processes require a seamless interface from detailed CAE simulation to subjective evaluations suitable for high level decision makers. In the context of perceived vehicle vibration, the need for a bridge between complex CAE data and realistic subjective evaluation of tactile response is most compelling. A suite of VI-grade noise and vibration simulators have been developed to meet this challenge.