ATPA-Advanced Transfer Path Analysis
ICR has developed the GTDT (Global Transfers and Direct Transfers) method of transmission path analysis. The method establishes the connectivity relationships between the different subsystems of a network that represents a certain physical model to analyze. From the vibration of each surface of the passenger compartment of a vehicle (subsystem), its contribution to the interior noise perceived by the passenger can be determined.

The method allows the contribution of each subsystem to be obtained as a decoupled element from the rest of the assembly. This approximation is equivalent to considering that the rest of the subsystems are blocked, and that only the element under study contributes to the noise received in the passenger compartment.

The application of the method makes it possible to predict which elements contribute the most to noise in the receiving subsystem (e. g. a microphone inside the tested vehicle) and thus prioritise interventions over particular components in order to increase the level of acoustic comfort. The method may also be applied in order to assess the individual contribution of each subsystem to the total mechanical vibration received at a position of interest.

Currently, research in GTDT methods includes theoretical and experimental aspects. Some of the recent theoretical developments include improving equation solving systems by regularizing and resampling or deepening the knowledge of non-linear mechanical systems. In the experimental field, the tendency is to optimize measurement methods, develop specific adaptations of the method to different cases or to make the technique more flexible for use with operational acquisitions.

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