ISO 11451-2:2015 - Overview
ISO 11451-2:2015 specifies a test method for assessing the immunity of passenger cars and commercial vehicles to narrowband radiated electromagnetic energy from off-vehicle radiation sources. Applicable across propulsion types (spark ignition, diesel, hybrid, electric), the standard defines practical procedures, instrumentation and test set‑ups to simulate real-world radiated electromagnetic disturbances and verify vehicle electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and frequency range: Covers narrowband radiated fields from 0.01 MHz to 18 000 MHz; users select required severity levels for the frequency range.
- Test location: Tests are performed preferably in an absorber‑lined shielded enclosure to emulate open-field conditions; outdoor sites are allowed if regulatory requirements are met.
- Field generation: Uses antennas or transmission line systems (TLS) as field‑generating devices. Multiple antennas/amplifiers may be required to cover the frequency band.
- Instrumentation: Required equipment includes RF signal generators (with modulation), high‑power amplifiers, power meters, field probes (electrically small and isotropic, with fibre‑optic links), directional couplers and loads.
- Vehicle placement & constraints:
- Radiating elements must respect minimum clearances (e.g., antenna phase centre ≥ 2 m from vehicle reference point; no antenna parts within 0.5 m of absorbing material).
- TLS must cover at least 75% of vehicle length and maintain prescribed separations.
- Vehicle configurations: Three setups are defined:
- Vehicle not connected to power mains.
- Vehicle in charging mode connected to the power grid (AC/DC, with or without communication), including use of artificial mains networks (AMN) mounted on the ground plane.
- Vehicle charging via wireless power transmission (WPT).
- Test procedure and reporting: Field calibration, stimulation/monitoring of DUT (using low‑interaction actuators and fibre optics), and documentation of test conditions and results. Annex A provides suggested severity levels and function‑performance status classification.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Automotive EMC engineers validating vehicle immunity to external radiated sources.
- Test laboratories building compliant absorber‑lined shielded enclosures and TLS/antenna rigs.
- OEMs and suppliers assessing electronic control units, charging systems and vehicle-level performance during grid‑connected or WPT charging.
- Certification bodies and regulators verifying compliance with vehicle EMC requirements.
Related standards
- ISO 11451-1 - General principles and terminology for narrowband radiated energy tests.
- Other parts of ISO 11451 (Part 3: on‑board transmitter simulation; Part 4: bulk current injection) for complementary test methods.
Keywords: ISO 11451-2, vehicle EMC testing, off-vehicle radiation sources, narrowband radiated electromagnetic energy, shielded enclosure, transmission line system, antenna testing, AMN, wireless power transmission, vehicle immunity testing.
