Numerical simulation of heavy truck’s aerodynamic noise

Abstract

A 3D numerical simulation is built on heavy truck including cab, frame, and tires. And vehicle exterior flow field in steady state is computed by computational fluid dynamics software. In the computation process, the distribution of sound power levels on the surface of vehicle body as well as the connection between sound power level and vehicle speed are obtained from aerodynamic noise source, which is using broadband noise source models. Taking the steady flow field results as original values, the exterior flow field computations in transient state are performed by large eddy simulation. Based on the transient fluid field, the near field aerodynamic noise from cab accessories is predicted using FW-H model, and the comparison of the simulation results and the test results is carried out. The results show that the aerodynamic noise sources are from the upwind side with a great pressure gradient. Attentions should be paid more on rearview mirror, diversion trench and sun visor for Aerodynamic noise optimization of heavy truck. The maximum sound power level of aerodynamic noise in vehicle body accessories is quadratic to vehicle speed. And the aerodynamic noise of heavy trucks is analysed by numerical simulation, in which noise distribution law is consistent with the test. Therefore, the numerical simulation can be adopted to provide the guidance for the design of vehicle body with low noise.