Laufgeräusch

Laufgeräusch is the noise produced by the running motion of mechanical components during operation. It is a component of the overall noise emitted by machines and devices and is often distinguished from other noise sources such as impact, airflow, or external excitation. In engineering, Laufgeräusch is particularly associated with rotating and translating parts like engines, gear trains, bearings, and fans, where intermittent contact, friction, or vibration generates characteristic audible signals.

Causes of Laufgeräusch include friction between moving surfaces, wear and scoring, insufficient or degraded lubrication, misalignment or imbalance, tooth contact in gears, bearing cage pulsations, resonance of structures, and transient events such as sudden load changes or combustion pulses. The specific sound can vary in pitch, loudness, and timbre depending on the mechanism and operating conditions.

Measurement and assessment rely on noise and vibration engineering methods. Measurements typically use microphones to capture sound pressure and accelerometers to monitor vibration, often with frequency-domain analysis (FFT) or order tracking to identify dominant frequencies. Metrics include sound power level, sound pressure level at specified distances, and sometimes subjective assessments of timbre and annoyance. Standards and test setups vary by application, including automotive, industrial machinery, and consumer appliances.

Reduction and control strategies encompass improvements in component quality and geometry, optimization of gear tooth profiles, balancing, precise alignment, enhanced lubrication regimes, damping and isolation, and enclosure design. Understanding Laufgeräusch is important for product design, compliance with noise standards, and user comfort in various applications.