On the Induced Noise of Test Sections in Different Wind Tunnels and in the Cabin of a Passenger Car

An acoustic comparison test of eleven European and two American full-scale automotive wind tunnels was carried out with a passenger car. The scope of investigation comprised in-flow and out-of-flow background noise measurements of the empty test sections as well as interior noise measurements inside the passenger compartment of a standard type Volkswagen Passat Variant CL. For this purpose seven different vehicle configurations were investigated in the various wind tunnels.

The aim of this experimental investigation was to establish physical criteria in order to carry out a suitable acoustic comparison between wind tunnels with different types of test sections and to establish upper limits of wind tunnel background noise levels where acoustic measurements inside a passenger compartment are questionable.