Structure-borne vehicle interior noise is an important issue affecting not only drivers' and passengers' perception of vehicle quality, but also their health and safety. Therefore, the significance of the matter requires continuous efforts to improve sound quality in vehicle compartments. The existing research models of vehicle interior noise are either too simple, which makes them unable to provide concrete solutions, or too complex, which makes them difficult to interpret. In this regard, the main objective of the current thesis is to bridge this gap between existing very simple analytical and very complex numerical models for vehicle interior noise analysis. This thesis proposes a new methodology of vehicle interior noise analysis based on theoretical and experimental studies of simplified reduced-scale models of real vehicles.

This thesis has investigated composite-honeycomb sandwich materials commonly used in Formula 1 nosecone structures. Experimental work has investigated their failure behaviour under static and dynamic crash loading, from which new constitutive failure laws for implementation in the explicit Finite Element code PAM-CRASHTM have been proposed. An investigation using an improved Arcan apparatus has been conducted to establish the mixed shear-compression properties of the honeycomb. An investigation has also been performed to establish relationships between in-plane deformation and out-ofplane compression properties. These relationships have been identified and successfully implemented into a honeycomb solid element material model available in PAMCRASHTM. A further investigation to represent honeycomb using geometrically accurate shell representation of the honeycomb has also been presented. This model was shown to reproduce trends observed during testing. The composite skin material has also been experimentally investigated and presented. This investigation made use of digital image correlation to examine the onset of intralaminar shear failure mechanisms, from which a non-linear damage progression law was identified. This law was successfully implemented into the Ladevéze damage model in PAM-CRASHTM for composite material modelling and has been shown to improve the representation of in-plane shear damage progression and failure. A series of experimental investigations to examine the energy absorbing properties of the sandwich have been conducted and presented. These investigations include three point bend flexural testing and edgewise impact loading. Failure mechanisms in the skin and core have been identified for each loading case. Experimental findings were used to assess the capability of PAM-CRASHTM for sandwich material modelling. This investigation has highlighted deficiencies in the material models when representing the sandwich, specifically with the existing composite skin and honeycomb models. Improvements introduced to the core and skin material models have shown some improvement when representing sandwich structures.

This research examined the significance of automotive facade particularly car facade and its relationship to design, image and identity. This research is based on the assumption that the car exterior design delivers both, product character and messages which influence the consumer perceptions. The car fayade normally reflects the company image and identity, the profile (side) section shows the functions either saloon, convertible or estate, while the rear section usually becomes a follower to be incorporated within the overall design. To make a comparison to humans, a car fayade resembles the face where normally the reflections on personality, character and expression ofthe person are experienced. The test revealed a relationship between car fayade and human face that in tum suggested that both are operated within the context of common themes and manners. Interpretation of the research findings also contextualised the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic references in car fayades.

Environmental pressures are driving automotive manufacturers towards light weight cost efficient structures. Composite materials have been shown to display high specific energy absorption levels thus offering opportunities for mass reduction over conventional steel structures. Whilst composites display these specific advantages, the mechanisms by which energy is absorbed are more complex and are preventing widespread acceptance of composite structures. This work aims to further scientific understanding of the crushing process and provide realistic data for a wide range of processing conditions and commonly used materials. The main objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of industrial manufacturing conditions on the crush performance of composite structures, and to correlate the performance to a number of in-plane laminate properties. The manufacturing parameters considered are constituent material related (mould temperature, post-cure time and resin composition), interlaminar toughness related and process related (amount of binder and voidage). The work presented in the thesis reports the results of axial crushing experiments, in-plane and inter-laminar testing performed on composite parts made from glass reinforced polyester and vinylester resins. The preforms were made from 2 fabrics; a continuous filament random mat and a 0/90° non crimp fabric. All parts were produced by resin transfer moulding (RTM) under conditions which were representative of medium volume industrial processing. Constituent material results demonstrate clear advantages associated with the use of vinylester resin and that while relationships between all in-plane properties and the crush performance can be observed, the ultimate compressive stress is the most reliable indicator of this performance. Interlaminar toughness enhancement shows great promise for tailoring of the crush curve and increase in energy absorption of non-crimp fabrics. Results for the processing work are directly applicable to existing manufacturing and demonstrate the potential for real reductions in cycle time and increase in properties.