Numerical simulation of automobile side-window buffeting noise based on fluid–structure interaction

• The buffeting noise was calculated by LES method.
• The noise radiation induced by the windows’ vibration was calculated.
• The panel acoustic contribution and modal participation factor were obtained.

Large-eddy simulation method was employed to compute the buffeting noise of a simple deep cavity model. Compared with the results of wind tunnel experiments, the numerical results coincided well with the experimental results, which further validated the correctness of Large-eddy simulation method. Large-eddy simulation method was employed to calculate automobile side-window buffeting noise when the side-window near the driver was partially opened by 25%, and the road test data validated its correctness. The flow field results were loaded to the finite element model to compute dynamic response of the car’s windows, the weak vibration of windows was excited by the air energy exchange between interior and exterior when the car at high speed. Acoustic radiation of window structure, sound pressure levels of field points in the frequency domain, panel acoustic contribution analysis of window structure were obtained by the vibration solution for the windows. The results demonstrated that the noise radiation caused by the windows’ vibration aroused the acoustic response significantly at some certain frequencies, although side-windows buffeting noise dominated in the low frequency domain. The rear window acoustic contribution accounted for the major part of the total pressure. Compared with other three side-windows, the contribution of the partially opened side-window to the total pressure was the greatest.