Adaptive control schemes for engine sound quality improvement

Active noise control systems tend to be designed with a target on sound pressure level reduction. However, the perceived control efficiency for the occupants can be more accurately assessed if psychoacoustic metrics are taken into account. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of an adaptive structural acoustic controller on the sound quality of engine noise in a vehicle mockup. The engine excitation is provided by a sound quality equivalent engine simulator, running on a real-time platform that delivers harmonic excitation in function of the driving condition. The controller targets a certain order to match a predefined profile. The controller performance is evaluated in terms of the tracked order amplitude and Zwicker Loudness.