Advances in Noise, Vibration, and Thermal Management for Ride Comfort and Dynamic Performance in Electric, Autonomous, and Traditional Vehicles

The automotive industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the emergence of electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicles alongside the evolution of traditional platforms. Amidst this shift, noise, vibration, and thermal management (NVH/TM) remain critical for ensuring comfort, safety, durability, and energy efficiency.

This Research Topic provides a multidisciplinary platform for presenting the latest innovations in NVH reduction, vibration isolation, suspension system technologies, and integrated thermal management. The aim is to drive next-generation solutions that elevate vehicle comfort, safety, and dynamic performance across passenger, commercial, and specialty vehicles.

Scope & Topics

We invite original and review contributions including case studies and perspectives that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

o Noise and vibration analysis, NVH reduction, and ride comfort
o Advanced suspension systems for vehicles, cabs, and seats
o Thermal management for batteries, fuel cells, power electronics, and passenger cabins
o Computational and experimental NVH/TM approaches, optimization methods, and AI-based control
o Integration of smart materials in suspension and vibration isolation
o Whole-body vibration, fatigue, human health, and ergonomic assessments
o Case studies on off-road, construction, defense, and specialty vehicles

Background

Traditional solutions such as passive suspensions, damping treatments, and basic cooling systems have partially addressed NVH and thermal issues, but rapidly evolving vehicle architectures pose new challenges:

o Electric and autonomous vehicles introduce tonal noises, unique vibration profiles, and the loss of conventional masking effects.
o Thermal demands for batteries and fuel cells necessitate precise control to optimize safety, performance, and longevity.
o Stricter regulations and increasing consumer expectations require more energy-efficient and sustainable solutions.

Innovations in smart materials, integrated NVH-thermal modeling, and AI-driven optimization are opening new paths for design and validation. The interplay of vibration, thermal, structural, and human factors demands a holistic, interdisciplinary perspective.

Goals

This Research Topic aims to:
o Advance the understanding of noise, vibration, and thermal challenges in modern vehicles.
o Promote validated methods and practical guidelines for designing sustainable, energy-efficient, and user-centered mobility solutions.
o Showcase both academic and industry-led advances that integrate engineering, materials, control systems, and human factors to optimize ride comfort, safety, durability, and performance.

Article Types

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and Case Study articles.

Submissions from academia and industry are encouraged. Contributions should highlight innovative methods, validated models, and guidelines that elevate the state of NVH and thermal management in vehicles.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Noise, Vibration, NSGA-II, AI-based).

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.