Horn sound digital validation for ECE-R28 regulation compliance

Every vehicle has to be certified by the concerned governing authority that it matches certain specified criteria laid out by the government for all vehicles made or imported into that country. Horn is one of the components that is tested for its function and sound level before a vehicle is approved for production and sale. Horn, which is an audible warning device, is used to warn others about the vehicle’s approach or presence or to call attention to some hazard. The vehicle horn must comply with the ECE-R28 regulation in the European market. Digital simulation of the horn is performed to validate the ECE-R28 regulation. In order to perform this, a finite element model of a cut model of a vehicle, which includes the horns and other components, is created. Fluid-structure coupled numerical estimation of the sound pressure level of the horn, with the appropriate boundary conditions, is performed at the desired location as per the ECE-R28 regulation. The simulation results thus obtained are then verified with test data of horn sound pressure level measurement. Digital simulation to estimate horn sound level in the early stage of the design process not only verifies compliance with ECE-R28 regulation, but also helps in reducing time and cost required in making any changes to the position of the horn at a later stage in the design process when the positions of the nearby components are already finalized. Therefore, packaging concerns of the horns can also be reduced.