Module Guide
Noise Vibration and Harshness
ENGR7003
Level 7 20 Credits
Module Leader: Dr Anand Thite
2025-26
Purpose of this guide
The purpose of this Module Guide is to provide you with specific information that
under-pins the design, delivery and management of this module. It is your
responsibility to familiarise yourself with the contents of this Module Guide and to talk
to your seminar tutor if you have any questions.
This isn’t the only guide available to you. Alongside this guide you will also have
access to the University Handbook which will provide you with information that is
central to your studies, including policies and regulations, student support and
wellbeing and all the services available to you through Student Support.
You will also be given a Programme Handbook which will detail the design, delivery
principles and management of your programme. It will also provide you with an
overview of your key contacts for your programme of study and list all the modules
you will be / might be studying throughout the duration of your award.
Module Guide 2025-26 1
Contents
Module Guide ............................................................................................................. 0
Purpose of this guide .............................................................................................. 1
Contents ................................................................................................................. 2
Module introduction ................................................................................................ 3
Module leader contact details ............................................................................. 3
Library Support.................................................................................................... 3
Changes made to the module (if any) in response to student and other feedback . 4
Module Study Plan.................................................................................................. 5
Module syllabus ...................................................................................................... 6
Recommended reading list ..................................................................................... 6
Assessment information ......................................................................................... 7
Coursework ......................................................................................................... 7
1: Portfolio of NVH Design, Modelling and Experimental Analysis – 80% of the
marks ...................................................................................................................... 7
2: In Class test, in week 12 – 20% of the marks (please see a typical class test
paper given later in this document) ......................................................................... 7
Artificial Intelligence and its use in this assessment ............................................ 7
Backing Up Work ................................................................................................ 8
Presenting coursework for assessment .............................................................. 8
Assignment length............................................................................................... 8
Turnitin ................................................................................................................ 8
Submission date and instructions........................................................................ 9
ISP Extensions .................................................................................................... 9
Marking and moderation of your work ............................................................... 10
Feedback .......................................................................................................... 10
Examinations ........................................................................................................ 11
Learning outcomes assessed ........................................................................... 11
Format............................................................................................................... 11
Assessment criteria ........................................................................................... 11
Specimen class test paper ................................................................................ 11
Module Guide 2025-26 2
Module introduction
The concepts of NVH are developed using fundamental vibrations and acoustics
background as well as introducing new topics to consolidate the learning of vibration
of analysis, eventually leading to noise analysis. The forced response of complex
systems in introduced so that vibration and noise control strategies can be
developed. A tuned absorber is one of the main topics where numerical analysis and
optimisation are used to validate it on the vibrating beam structure. This module
addresses MDOF systems and their analysis with a specific aim of vibration and
noise control. It increases student’s knowledge and understanding of the dynamic
behaviour of mechanical systems through further consideration of mechanical
vibrations and its effects. Various well-established techniques like Transfer Path
Analysis, Statistical Energy Analysis and impedance approaches etc. are discussed
and the fundamental requirements of these methods are addressed.
The module is divided into five main topics: NVH experimental diagnosis, Lower
frequency vibration analysis leading to the application of ride comfort modelling,
Experimental modal analysis, Tuned vibration design for narrow band NVH
refinement, and vibroacoustic modelling of a vehicle cabin. A comprehensive set of
notes is provided. Most of your time will be spent in private study, reading additional
texts, and working through problems.
The subject is one important aspect of improving students' employability. Students
with an NVH background are sought after in several and varied industries. The
design and development aspects using analytical, Finite Element (ANSYS), and
experimental approaches used in the module emphasise employability throughout.
We hope that you will do well in this very important subject.
Module leader contact details
Name: Dr Anand Thite
Room: NHHB 1.01, Headington Hill Campus
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 648951
email: athite@[Link]
Office hours: 10:00am to 12:00pm, Thursday
Library Support
Contact the Library for support with resources and referencing for this module:
email libraryenquiries@[Link], use our Live Chat service (yellow button on
any Library Web page) or go to the Course Resource Help page for your subject.
Module Guide 2025-26 3
Changes made to the module (if any) in response to student and
other feedback
The module ran for the first time with 100% CW assessment. No significant concerns
were faced, but aspects relating to the background information need revisiting. Most
of the students have no background in the NVH field and taking them to a much
higher level very quickly is an issue that needs to be addressed. Additional
documents will be prepared, and the portfolio template will be updated to improve
the ease of writing a technical report.
Module Guide 2025-26 4
Module Study Plan
Topic Reading/Activity Deadlines
Week
1 Review of equations of Watching relevant video
motion, solution to find recordings, Trying out
natural frequencies, forced Simulink Onramp, MATLAB
vibration analysis, onramp
frequency response
functions
2 Fundamentals of vibration Watching relevant video
measurements, MDOF recordings, Modal testing
systems modelling papers, Simulink onramp,
MATLAB Onramp
3 Ride comfort modelling and Watching relevant video Report on ride comfort
experimental modal recordings, Ride comfort modelling for formative
analysis modelling papers feedback – Friday 13:00
hrs.
4 Finite element modelling of Watching relevant video
vibrations and experimental recordings, Order analysis
NVH problem diagnosis papers
5 Recap and any catchup as Watching relevant video
required recordings, Experimental
modal analysis papers
6 Vibration absorber design Watching relevant video Experimental modal
recordings, Absorber design analysis report for formative
papers feedback – Friday 13:00
hrs.
7 Vibro-acoustic modelling Watching relevant video
part 1 recordings, Absorber design
papers
8 Noise and vibration of Watching relevant video Absorber design report for
rotating machines recordings, Order analysis formative feedback– Friday
papers 13:00 hrs.
9 Vibro-acoustic modelling Watching relevant video
part 2, Control of vibration recordings, Vehicle vibro-
and noise acoustic modelling papers
10 Vibro-acoustic modelling Watching relevant video Order analysis report for
part 3, Control of vibration recordings, Vehicle vibro- formative feedback– Friday
and noise acoustic modelling papers 13:00 hrs.
11 Open session
12 Open session Prepare for the class test Vibro-acoustic modelling
report for formative
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Topic Reading/Activity Deadlines
Week
feedback– Friday 13:00 hrs.
Class test
Module syllabus
Module syllabus (it is a link to the pdf file on Moodle)
Recommended reading list
See the reading list at [Link]
[Link]?lang=en-GB.
Module Guide 2025-26 6
Assessment information
This module follows the principles of the University’s Assessment and feedback
policy developed in conjunction with the Student Union, to ensure good practice and
transparency in assessment and feedback processes. The Assessment and
feedback policy can be found in your Programme Handbook or on your Programme’s
Brookes Virtual site.
Please note: the Institutional University Handbook which will provide you with
information that is central to your studies, including policies and regulations, student
support and wellbeing and all the services available to you through Student Support.
The core information is also available on Moodle via the drop-down menu under
‘Student Help’.
Coursework
1: Portfolio of NVH Design, Modelling and Experimental Analysis –
80% of the marks
Your Assignment Brief can be found under the ‘Assessment’ tab in the Moodle
module of ENGR7003. There you will also find the assessment criteria outlining how
marks will be awarded. You will be taken through each piece of coursework in a full
briefing during your scheduled teaching hours. Details of how you should present
your work are provided below.
2: In Class test, in week 12 – 20% of the marks (please see a typical
class test paper given later in this document)
Artificial Intelligence and its use in this assessment
All students should complete the ‘Use of Artificial Intelligence’ course available on
Moodle. After taking it, please upload your Certificate of Completion to the
submission link on ENGR7009.
This link will take you to further guidance on the use of AI tools at Brookes. This link
will take you to the Moodle course Use of Artificial Intelligence.
For this assessment specifically, the extent you can use AI tools is detailed below,
• In this assignment, you can use AI tools as follows: you can use AI tools as
follows: for initial planning and brainstorming ideas, to find references (in
accordance with the Brookes Library guide to using AI tools for research) and
for final proofreading to check grammar before submission. You need to state
your use in the declaration form when you submit your work.
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Backing Up Work
Generally, IT-related problems are not considered valid grounds for exceptional
circumstances. This is because students are expected to back up their work
regularly via their Google Drive, so that they can continue accessing their files on
other devices. If you experience IT issues, you are expected to take prompt action to
remedy these, for example, by raising a ticket with the IT Service Desk; taking your
technology for repair or contacting your faculty if you need support with faculty-
provided software.
If your own device is faulty, over 1,000 open access PCs are available for use on
campus, or you may borrow a laptop for up to four hours from one of the self-service
cabinets on campus.
Presenting coursework for assessment
Your assignment must be presented in the following format:
● It must be word-processed in 12 point Arial font and double-spaced
● All pages must be numbered.
● Margins must be as follows: Top: 1 inch, Bottom: 1 inch (2.5 cm), Left: 1.25
inches, Right: 1.25 inches (3.2 cm)
● It should not contain your name(s)
Assignment length
The length of an assignment is limited by a set number of words to contribute
towards the development of writing skills and to ensure all work is assessed
equitably. We therefore require you to complete your assignments within the number
of words specified in the assignment brief. This is expressed as an indicative limit
(e.g. 3200 words).
The word count refers to the main body of the assignment and does not include front
cover, title page, contents page, introduction, reflection, reference list, bibliography
or appendices. The word count does include headings, tables and in-text citations,
but not equations or diagrams. Appendices themselves will not be marked. However,
inappropriate use of appendices will be taken into consideration when awarding the
final mark.
Words that exceed the maximum allowed in an assignment brief that contains either
a word range or an indicative limit will not be marked. If in doubt, you should discuss
this with the Module Leader before submission.
Turnitin
The portfolio on this module will be submitted through Turnitin. Turnitin is a web-
based tool that supports the development of good academic practice when preparing
written work for assessment. This text-matching tool allows academic staff to check
assignments for improper use of sources or potential plagiarism by comparing it
against continuously up-dated databases (including web-pages and other student
work).
The report templates for each part of the work will be provided. It is recommended
that students submit the work for formative feedback as soon as they complete
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(appropriate Moodle submissions will be available) a particular element of the
assignment.
Submission date and instructions
Your work must be uploaded to the dropbox in Moodle by 13:00 hours Friday of
week 13.
Give the file(s) which you intend to upload a name which begins with your student
number. For example ‘12345678 annotated bibliography module XXXX1234’
Please ensure you submit your assignment no later than the deadline set above
(these are fixed deadlines, but students may exceptionally secure an extension if last
minute untoward circumstances affect your ability to submit on time). Please see
your Programme Handbook for more details. Please note the use of this extension
is monitored and restrictions in place for overuse.
[Link]
circumstances/application/how-to-apply
The Blue Marking Card adjustment is only available to students who have an
Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) specifying this adjustment. Eligible students who wish to
use this adjustment must add a blue card:
[Link]
assessments/blue-marking-cards
Recommendations for Reasonable Adjustments are made in accordance with the
provisions of the Equality Act 2010. These are detailed in Inclusive Support Plans
(ISPs) and need to be implemented unless there is a clear rationale for this not being
possible, in which case we are accountable as an HEI for this decision. Alternatives
should be considered, and further advice sought from the Inclusive Support Service
to ensure we are compliant, consistent, and following best practice.
ISP Extensions
If you have an Inclusive Support Plan you can check whether you have coursework
extensions and how many weeks on your Student Information page. Contact your
module leader if you are unclear about your deadlines.
Do not confuse coursework extensions agreed as part of an Inclusive Support Plan
(ISP) with Exceptional Circumstances. There are no limits to how often you can use
the extensions agreed as part of your ISP.
There are final submission dates which no extensions can go beyond. These
are the same for extensions agreed through the Exceptional Circumstances
Procedure or an ISP. You can find this on the Exceptional Circumstances website. If
you are not sure whether your ISP coursework extension would go past the final
hand-in date, always contact your Module Leader to confirm your deadline.
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Coursework extensions included as part of your Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) can be
used for the portfolio assignment.
For the class test, any extra time, including rest breaks, agreed as part of your
Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) will be given.
Marking and moderation of your work
Following internal moderation, a sample of work is reviewed by the External
Examiner for the programme to ensure that the standards applied are comparable to
those at other institutions. To read how your work is moderated please go to your
programme handbook for details.
Feedback
Feedback on your work will be provided in a range of ways at various times
throughout this module, and different feedback will serve slightly different purposes.
Feedback is designed to support your learning and help you to improve subsequent
work, so you need to engage and get the most out of the feedback provided.
Please note that feedback is provided throughout the module, not just on formal
tasks. It will be provided on your work and contribution in class, on the formal
assessment tasks and, in some circumstances, during staff office hours.
If you would like further information about feedback, or how to use it, please talk to
your tutor on this module or your Academic Adviser or Programme Lead
Assessment sheets with rubrics are used for portfolio marking. These will be shared
with students after the exam committee meeting. Formative feedback in verbal form
is given after each element is submitted. This feedback will normally be provided
within 15 working days of submission.
Please note that all marks are provisional until they are ratified by an Examination
Committee.
Please note that all marks are provisional until they are ratified by an Examination
Committee.
Module Guide 2025-26 10
Examinations
Learning outcomes assessed
LOs 2, 5 and 7
Format
Closed book, of 1 hour
Assessment criteria
As given in the class test paper
Specimen class test paper
CLASS TEST OF NVH (20% of module marks)
Time duration: 40 min
For students with ISP, an additional 12 min is allowed
Solve all questions
Question 1
Using the SDOF system receptance frequency response function, discuss the
influence of the system's damping, mass and stiffness in vibration control.
6 Marks
Question 2
Discuss the influence of damping on absorber performance using frequency
response function plots. The performance of tuned vibration absorbers depends on
the primary and secondary system parameters. Two such parameters are the
damping ratio and the frequency ratio. Discuss how these parameters affect the
operational bandwidth of an absorber.
10 Marks
Question 3
The mode superposition principle is a preferred forced vibration analysis tool in most
numerical software. List the advantages and disadvantages of the mode
superposition approach compared to the full or direct method of determining
displacement response.
3 Marks
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Question 4
Draw a sound transmission loss curve of a double leaf barrier when a diffuse
acoustic field acts on one of the sides. Show the essential performance features of
the barrier.
8 Marks
Question 5
The dynamics of built-up structures can be modelled using numerical or
experimental approaches. The experimental modelling is generally performed in the
modal domain. Experimental modal tests are conducted for this. For a beam
structure sketching a modal test arrangement, describe how the modal parameters
of
1. Damping,
2. Natural frequency and
3. Mode shapes
can be estimated.
15 Marks
Question 6
A vibration isolation of an electric machine of mass 20kg has a spring of stiffness k=
200000 N/m, damping coefficient c=200 Ns/m. Estimate the displacement, velocity
and acceleration response at 200Hz.
8 Marks
Total 50 Marks
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