An Experimental Investigation of Sunroof Buffeting Characteristics of a Sedan

Abstract

After a short introduction about vehicle wind buffeting noise generation mechanisms, sunroof buffeting characteristics of a production sedan under different wind speeds and operating modes are investigated through full-scale aeroacoustic wind tunnel tests. As sunroof fully open, the severest buffeting effect occurs at wind speed 50kph, with the peak SPL 122dB and the corresponding resonance frequency 18Hz for the test point at the front row. From ca. 60kph it seems that the buffeting effect disappeared. As sunroof tilt, the severest buffeting effect occurs at wind speed equal or less than 30kph, the resonance frequency equal or less than 15Hz. From ca. 40kph the buffeting effect almost disappeared. Whether sunroof fully open or tilt, the resonance frequency increases all along as wind speed goes up till the buffeting effect disappeared (less than 20Hz). Different test positions at the front row or back row show very similar buffeting characteristics.