Quality Matters: Ulsan utilise Brüel & Kjær automotive solutions

Established in 2002, the Ulsan Technopark (UTP) is jointly owned by the Korean government and the Ulsan City Authority. Its goal is to situate resources such as universities, businesses and research institutes in one place and become the centre for technological innovation, providing building facilities and equipment for research, testing and production.

Andrew Kim, Test & Reliability Chief Manager, at the APIC, worked for Hyundai Motor Company for 10 years before joining UTP in 2004. With a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Pusan National University - and currently working on a doctoral thesis - Andrew was highly influential in the design and commissioning of UTP’s state-of-the art test facility.

The facility includes a hemi-anechoic chamber with a cut-off frequency of 125Hz and a background noise level of less than 20 dBA, four climatic chambers, a state-of-the-art crash test facility, a hydraulic road simulator and a multi-axle hydraulic system for durability testing.

Andrew says: “Before joining Ulsan I worked for Hyundai Motor Company for 10 years and used Brüel & Kjær products and solutions almost exclusively. At UTP, we have a high focus on automotive NVH vibration testing for life-cycle and environmental tests.”

Andrew is also very influential in advising customers in choosing test and measurement systems. He says: “In fact, it is not uncommon for our customers to purchase solutions that have been used for their projects”.

UTP currently has two PULSE systems, which were bought four years ago – a 17-channel C-frame and a 34-channel D-frame – and they have plans to invest in more. Andrew continues: “I’m especially impressed with the PULSE platform - both hardware and software - and we are now moving forward to use PULSE Reflex Core and Modal for post-processing. We’re also very interested in Brüel & Kjær’s unique expertise in array technology”.

UTP has both a Non-stationary STSF (Spatial Transformation of Sound Fields) array with scanning robot and a circular array that is used for Noise Source Identification and sound power measurements in UTP’s hemi-anechoic chamber. Other Brüel & Kjær products used at UTP include an Impedance Tube for material testing. LDS shakers are extensively used – a V875 for durability/life cycle testing and a V9 with a climatic chamber for vibration testing (both R&D and durability/life cycle). In addition, Brüel & Kjær microphones, accelerometers and power amplifiers are used exclusively.