Experimental characterization of the unsteady flow field behind two outside rear-view mirrors

Abstract

The unsteady flow field behind two outside rear-view automobile mirrors was examined experimentally in order to compile a comprehensive database for the validation of the ongoing computational investigation effort to predict the aero-acoustic noise to the outside rear-view mirrors. This study is part of a larger scheme to predict the aero-acoustic noise due to various external components on automobiles. To aid with the characterization of this complex flow field, mean and unsteady surface pressure measurements were undertaken in the wake of two mirror models. Velocity measurements with particle image velocimetry were also conducted to develop the mean velocity field of the wake. Two full-scale mirror models with distinctive geometrical features were investigated. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.