This research analyses the significance of air extractor on car door closing effort, especially within the context of highly sealed cabins. The goal is to measure their effectiveness in lowering pressure-induced resistance, study how cut-out cross section and location affect performance, and its contribution to vehicle premium feel. Current vehicle design trends prioritize airtight cabin sealing for improving aerodynamic efficiency, NVH performance. This causes a problem in door closing operation. Air trapped while closing door creates transient pressure pulses. This pressure surge creates immediate discomfort to user i.e., Popping in Ears and requires high door closing force, and long-term durability problems in hinges and seals. In properly sealed cabins, air pressure resistance can contribute to 25% to 40% of total door closing force.
Air extractors, which are usually installed in the rear quarter panels or behind rear bumpers, serve as pressure relief valves, allowing for smoother airflow out of the cabin during such incidents. This passive system lowers door-closing effort, improves occupant experience, and safeguard structural components.
A combination of experimental tests, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and real-world validations was employed to assess various air extractor configurations. Extractor size, location, flap design, and sealing levels of the vehicle were varied. Cabin pressure behavior and door closing force were tested under controlled and dynamic conditions. Comparative studies were also conducted across vehicle segments, including electric vehicles with high sealing requirements. Through these factors, this paper gives a holistic view to improve overall user experience as well as help to aligned with industry standards. The results have been backed with case studies as well as with simulation analysis to properly optimize the extractor design for new vehicles.