Through its collaboration with software company Free Field Technologies (FFT), Autoneum’s proven acoustic simulation methods for vehicle acoustics are being incorporated into FFT’s leading modeling software, Actran, thus setting new standards in CAE design of noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) and data exchange.

As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow across the globe, both development time of new models and their time to market decreases, while new powertrain systems are increasing the requirements in acoustic management. In order to further shorten the development process for vehicle manufacturers and to reduce vehicle noise as effectively as possible, Autoneum and the Belgian software company FFT, part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, are relying on their combined strengths: Thanks to the partnership, vehicle manufacturers will in the future benefit from Autoneum’s decades of experience in designing tailored sound packages, as Autoneum’s validated methodology for the prediction and insulation of structure-borne noise will be incorporated into Actran, the industry-leading simulation software for acoustics and vibroacoustics. Manufacturers therefore not only gain easier access to more accurate and production-based data: The precise prediction of vehicle performance early in the development process also allows them to significantly reduce design and lead times in addition to optimally balancing performance, weight and cost of noise-insulating materials.

Simulation tools developed by Autoneum such as SILVER and GOLD will form a crucial part of the new solution that will be integrated into Actran. Focusing on both body vibration and the performance of acoustic damping materials, they allow for the prediction and optimization of the NVH characteristics of vehicles in the concept phase.