Computer aided engineering for sound propagation in exterior environments

Physical testing is required to assess multiple vehicles in different conditions, specially to validate those related to regulations. The acoustic evaluations have difficulties and limitations in physical test; cost and time represent important considerations every time. Additionally, the physical validation happens once a prototype has been built, this takes place in a later phase of the development. Sound pressure is measured to validate different requirements in a vehicle, horn sound is one of these and it is related to a regulation of united nations (ECE28). Currently the validation happens in physical test only and the results vary depending on the location of the horn inside the front end of every vehicle. In this article, the work for approaching a virtual validation method through CAE is presented with the intention to get efficiency earlier in product development process.