FEM analysis of noise reduction in automobile suspension

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) identifies noise as the principal cause of ride discomfort. Critical to NVH, suspension rubber bushings can also be a source of noise due to dry friction. This thesis addresses the influence of dry friction at the bushing level. This work proposes a static FEM model of a simplified bushing geometry, recreating its prevalent deformation mode. It was built with Abaqus/CAE (DassaultSystèmes, France). The third-order Ogden’s model was chosen to reproduce the rubber's hyperelasticity. Its parameters were calibrated to load-displacement curves using optimization methods. The analysis revealed that radial deformation’s level and surfaces’ geometrical features directly impact friction sensitivity. This suggests a deformation range where friction might generate noise and shows the importance of part design.