Vibro-Acoustic Simulation for Vehicle Audio Design

Acoustic user interfaces and audio experiences are among the leading comfort factors in new vehicle interior designs. OEMs are more and more focusing on loudspeaker design and positioning, to provide the most immersive experience to the customers. The industrial target is to be able to predict the performance of an audio system in early design phases. This paper presents an integrated vibro-acoustic methodology enabling early-stage prediction of loudspeaker performance in real vehicle conditions. The approach combines electromechanical characterization, a hybrid loudspeaker calibrated model valid across the audible range and coupled FEM/BEM/SEA simulations to capture the loudspeaker response in the vehicle’s cabin considering door-installation effects and cabin acoustics. The method is validated experimentally on a rear-door loudspeaker installed in a production vehicle, showing strong correlation with measured SPL. A final application case demonstrates its capability to assess the impact of alternative speaker mounting positions during the design phase.