Numerical study of aerodynamic pressure outside seals in the body-closure gap of automotive side door

The aerodynamic pressure on exterior surface of automotive door seals is the cause of sealing failure and one of the primary noise sources of vehicle cabin. This excitation is coupled with sealing strips, leading to large airborne noise, particularly in the frequency bands of 0.5–3 kHz. Given the unaddressed knowledge gap in existing literature, we investigated the aerodynamic pressure outside the seal surface, using improved delay detached eddy simulation, which was validated by a wind tunnel experiment. A simplified vehicle and two distinct seal profiles were employed to obtain the flow within the seal gap and characterize the aerodynamic pressure. The flow around a full-scale automobile model involving the door-body gap and outer surface of door seal was predicted by the validated simulation method, considering a highway condition under crosswind. Time-averaged pressure coefficient, fluctuating pressure coefficient, and power spectral density of pressure on the exterior seal surface are examined at typical positions. Modifications of the pressure are documented, along with comparisons with those on the front side window. This work provides preliminary basis for contact failure and vibroacoustic analysis of sealing strips under wind excitation of a high-speed vehicle.