Experimental investigation of vehicle wiper blade׳s squeal noise generation due to windscreen waviness

• An experimental setup to reproduce squeal noise from a vehicle wiper was proposed.
• Glass waviness induced variation on the relative velocity and friction coefficient.
• Decreasing friction coefficient generated the vibration instability and squeal noise.
• Squeal noise radiated at high temperatures and after spraying of washer fluids.

The friction between rubber and glass is a primary factor in inducing squeal noises from vehicle wiper systems on automotive windscreens. The squeal noise occurs without periodicity only when specific conditions are met for particular vehicles. In this study, an experimental setup for consistent squeal noise generation was implemented using a wiper blade on a rotating windscreen glass. The waviness of the rotating glass induced variation of the wiper blade sliding velocity and friction coefficients, simultaneously. The squeal noise generation mechanism was investigated by analysing the effects of surrounding temperature and washer fluid on the vibration instability. This analysis provided needed information to design a vehicle wiper system with minimal squeal noise generation during normal operations.