Development and Validation of Spreadsheet Tools for Assessment and Modifications of Noise Paths

Equipment manufacturers commonly deal with noise issues in the prototyping stage, though many noise and vibration problems could have been avoided altogether or addressed in the conceptual design stages at much lower cost. Once the prototyping stage is reached, noise control measures are often sub-optimal, costly, and difficult to implement. The objective of the current research effort is to develop the protocol and tools to move design decisions regarding noise and vibration into the earlier design stages. In this proposal, relevant strategies and tools are discussed.