Autoneum (Switzerland)

Abstract Mechanical shearing introduces a material limit lower than the onset of local necking. This new limit is critical for understanding and predicting material performance in industrial forming applications. The sheared edge condition, influenced by strain hardening and microstructural damage, reduces ductility in the shear-affected zone, posing challenges for reliable characterization and numerical prediction. This study presents an approach that integrates finite element modelling (FEM) with geometric shape matching to establish a practical, simulation-compatible material limit for sheared-edge formability. Instead of relying on localized strain measurements, the methodology determines the punch displacement in FEM simulations that best replicates the experimentally observed deformed geometry of Hole Expansion Capacity (HEC) test specimens, along with the corresponding maximum deformation of elements at the stretched edges. The method proves effective for industrial forming processes, enhancing FEM-based edge failure prediction and providing a valuable tool for process optimization and defect troubleshooting in sheet metal forming.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This article follows a companion article [<span class="xref">1</span>] presented at the SAE NVC 2021, in which a new system for the measurement on small samples of the normal-incidence Insertion Loss (IL) of multilayers used for the manufacturing of automotive sound package parts was first introduced. In addition to simplifying the evaluation of the sound-insulation of multi-layers used to produce sound-package components, the system aims at overcoming the limitations of the test procedure based on the ASTM E2611 standard.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In this article, the latter point is demonstrated by comparing the insertion loss results obtained with the new system with those obtained with the test procedure based on the ASTM E2611 standard on a few multilayers commonly used for the manufacturing of automotive sound package parts. Results indicate that the data obtained by means of the newly developed system are more meaningful, practically usable and less prone to edge-effects, compared to those obtained according to the ASTM E2611 test procedure.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In addition to this, the article compares also the results obtained by means of the new system with those obtained in a compact two-cabins facility commonly used for the evaluation of diffuse-field insertion loss following the ASTM E90 standard, a quantity customarily employed in the automotive industry for the assessment of the sound insulation of acoustic multilayers. Results indicate that the data obtained with the new system compare well with those obtained with the two-cabins facility, both quantitatively and qualitatively. This indicates that sound-insulation tests with the new system may be a valid alternative to much more resource-consuming tests in two-chamber facilities, in particular (but not only) when the sound insulation of moulded parts must be assessed.</div></div>

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the state of the science to determine relationships among adult patient- and family member-perceived family resilience, individual resilience and perceived family resilience, and perceived family resilience and psychosocial outcomes. PubMed®, CINAHL®, PsycINFO®, Sociological Abstracts, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Random effects models were performed to calculate pooled effect sizes, and meta-analyses were conducted. Two authors assessed risk of bias using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Study heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test and the I2 statistic. Publication bias was evaluated. Patient-perceived family resilience and family member-perceived family resilience were positively correlated. Family resilience was positively related to patient and family member individual resilience. Higher family resilience was associated with patients' reduced symptom burden and perceived stress and improved affect and quality of life, and family members' reduced caregiver burden and stress and higher social support and quality of life. Investigations employing a longitudinal design are needed to understand any causal relationships between family resilience and psychosocial outcomes for the dyad.

This paper proposes a measurement system to assess the effectiveness of sound-insulating multilayers against structure-borne excitation, meant to complement the well-known and established systems used in the automotive field for airborne excitation. The system consists of a shaker, a frame connected to it and a plate clamped along its edges to the frame. When the frame is put into vibration by the shaker, the plate radiates noise into a small anechoic cabin where microphones are positioned. This layout intends to mimic the noise radiation from an automotive body panel. The development of such a system, in spite of its simplicity, presents non-trivial aspects, such as the design of a frame sufficiently rigid not to have modes in the frequency range of interest and the definition of a metric to evaluate the effectiveness of an acoustic multilayer in a robust way based only on SPL measurements. The paper describes how these challenges were overcome, using topological optimization to design a frame made with magnesium suitable for tests up to about 1kHz and FE simulations to define a robust assessment metric by placing the receiving microphones at a fixed distance from the plate and at positions corresponding to integration Gauss points. Besides the design, the paper describes also how the system was prototyped and eventually validated.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper shows that the combination of a glass and passive acoustic treatment manufacturers can bring different benefits and considerably improve the interior acoustics of a vehicle.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">Glazing contributes to the design of the vehicle in addition to its primary role, good visibility and safety. From an acoustic point of view, this brings a challenge for the interior comfort. Indeed, glazing has no absorption and classically has an acoustic insulation weakness around its coincident frequency. In most of the cases, these different aspects make glazing one of the main contributors to the sound pressure level in the passenger compartment, and the trend is not one of change.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">However, there are possible countermeasures. One of which is the use of laminated glazing with acoustic PVB. This solution allows reducing the loss of insulation performance at the coincidence frequency. The other is the usage of passive interior acoustic trims. When properly positioned and optimized, the latter can be very effective and can tackle the frequency range that poses a problem. Especially since some technologies allow, by their process, to choose between the improvements of insulation or absorption.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The aim of this paper is to understand the impact of the glazing on the interior acoustic for tires excitations. For that study, a measurement campaign together with some simulations models (FE and SEA) have been carried over on a European C-segment vehicle. A ranking of the different contributions is proposed. Then, in a second part, the countermeasures to improve the interior sound pressure level by adding optimized glazing and sound packages are presented.</div></div>

In the context of the development of lightweight and vehicle-NVH-refined sound package solutions, car manufacturers have identified that it is essential to promote new dedicated CAE design methods which can be applied at a very early stage, before body and trim designs are frozen.