Recent Progress using SEA and CFD to Predict Interior Wind Noise

This paper reviews the aero-vibro-acoustic theory required to predict interior wind noise in an automobile passenger cabin. It describes how the exterior flow field needs to be defined as an input source to a statistical energy analysis (SEA) model of the body structural acoustics, with particular emphasis on separation of different wavenumber components. The paper then presents and evaluates the most recent work with unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD), as means to provide the required inputs to the SEA model. Comparison of predictions with test data is provided to illustrate progress to date and continuing development directions.