b'Automotive | Engineer InnovationVolvo Trucks Truck manufacturer uses Simcenter Testlab and Simcenter SCADAS to improve cabin sound qualityMake truck driving safe andhave to be accurate in our analyses in enjoyableorder to find the exact cause of the I love truck driving, says Theresiaannoyance, reveal the nature of the Manns." The ride behavior of aproblem and propose an adequate heavyweight cant be compared to a car.solution to it.You feel much more involved when driving a truck. There is no room forThe Simcenter Testlab 3D Acoustic boredom as you have to constantlyCamera software, with its SimcenterTM assess driving conditions and be inSolid Sphere Array hardware, is one of control. Manns is not a professionalVolvo Trucks preferred tools for acoustic truck driver, journeying millions of milesmeasurements.across Europe to bring resources and manufactured goods to their finalThe spherical acoustic camera can be destination. Instead, she helps developused to scan the inside of a trucks cabin next-generation trucks for the Volvo(Figure 1), measuring the sound field Trucks company in her hometown ofwhile omitting reverbs, and overlaying Gothenburg, Sweden. the depiction of the real sound sources to the 3D geometry of the trucks Her mission is to turn truck driving intointerior. In other words, it displays an enjoyable, comfortable experienceacoustic hot spots on a photograph of for drivers and passengers. As a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) engineer, she understands the impact of ride comfort on attributes such as quality perception, driving pleasureand safety.My focus is to improve the sound quality in the trucks cabin, says Manns, a senior feature analyst in the noise and vibration laboratory, part of the Volvo Trucks Technology Group. Sound quality is definitely not a negligible aspect of truck design and development. Poor sound quality and the occurrence of disturbing noises cause additional stress and mental fatigue for the driver.Scout for cluesManns compares her job to that of a detective. Whenever a noise issue occurs, she investigates the origin of the problem and proposes appropriate countermeasures. It is a very challenging role, she comments. WeFigure 1: Spherical acoustic camera used to scan the inside of a trucks cabin59'