Experimental and numerical study of wind noise caused by cowl area on Volvo XC60

The paper presents a detailed experimental and numerical study of aerodynamically produced noise which occurs due to turbulent structures created by the cowl cavity and side mirror. The study aims to answer the question about how much turbulence in the cowl area contributes to the overall wind noise level on Volvo cars. Measurements were carried out at the Volvo wind tunnel on a Volvo XC60. Configurations considered were: rear view mirror On/Off with the cowl cavity open/closed. The results discussed in this paper include intensity probe measurements in the flow as well as standard measurements in the car. The experimental results are compared to numerical data, which are presented as isocontours of λ

2

criterion and pressure fluctuations.