Aero-acoustic turbulent computational fluid dynamics simulation of a generic automobile with multiple broadband source models

Beg, OA; Beg, TA; Kitende, M; Kuharat, S; Kadir, A; Vasu, B; El Gendy, M; Sohail, A; Leonard, HJ; Jouri, WS

Abstract

Various transport engineering systems face numerous challenges to contain the excessive excitations due to aeroacoustics. The regulation of noise, stability and passenger comfort are some of the key parameters that are critical for optimized aeroacoustics design in automotive engineering. The use of acoustics includes traditional and advanced predictable methods that are used across the automotive, aerospace and rail sectors. Broadband noise can lead to fluid acoustics and fluid structure interaction and possibly to mechanical failure of the structural frame of the vehicle. Broadband noise tends to radiate outwards where it is a nuisance and harmful to people. When speaking about vehicle noise, usually it is associated with engine noise, exhaust and the contact noise coming off the wheels and the road interaction. Previous experimental studies showed that there was an apparent aerodynamic noise source around the structural frame of the passenger vehicle. In the current work a CFD simulation of aero-acoustic external flow around a generic 3-D automotive body model is presented. ANSYS FLUENTCFD code is employed which utilizes a finite volume method. This permits quite reasonably accurate simulations in aeroacoustics in 3 dimensions. Three different broadband source models are explored-the Proudman acoustic power, Curle surface acoustic power and Lilley turbulent shear flow noise model. In the aero-acoustic flow simulation, arealisable K-epsilon turbulence model with scalable wall function is also implemented. Cruising velocity of 60km/hr (16.67 m/s) is considered.Mesh independence and residual iteration details are included. Visualizations of velocity fields, pressure distributions, surface acoustic power levels are provided. The aero-acoustic performance of the broadband models is compared. The methodology provides a good foundation for refinement to more complex automotive geometries featuring actual surface details including wing mirrors, tyres, body panel discontinuities etc, which inevitably require extremely high mesh densities and compilation times.

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: ICMEAMT 2021: 15th International Conference on Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics and Technology
• Start Date: Dec 14, 2021
• End Date: Dec 15, 2021
• Acceptance Date: Apr 11, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 17, 2020
• Publisher URL: https://waset.org/mechanical-engineering-applied-mechanics-and-technology-conference-in-december-2021-in-cairo
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference