Development of a Process to Predict Whole Vehicle Aeroacoustic Interior Noise

Quality and refinement are of paramount importance
for luxury vehicles. The rapid electrification of the
automotive industry has increased the contribution
of aeroacoustics to the consumer perception of sound quality.
The ability to predict whole vehicle aeroacoustic interior noise
is essential in the development of vehicles with an extraordinary
acoustic environment.
This publication summarises the development of a process
to combine lattice Boltzmann computational fluid dynamics
simulations, with a whole vehicle statistical energy analysis
model, to predict the aeroacoustic contribution from all
relevant sources and paths. The ability to quantify the relative
contribution of glazing panels and path modifications was
also investigated.
The whole vehicle aeroacoustic interior noise predictions
developed, were found to be within 2dB(A) of comparable test
vehicle wind tunnel measurements, across a broad frequency
range (250-5000Hz). The ability to determine panel contributions
and identify the effect of path modifications was
also shown.
This study is the first stage in delivering an accurate, optimised
and cost effective approach to predict whole vehicle
aeroacoustic interior noise, early in the vehicle development
process; reducing the reliance upon expensive
prototype vehicles.