Vehicle Aerodynamic Noise: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms, Simulation Methods, and Bio-Inspired Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

With the electrification of automotive powertrains, aerodynamic noise has emerged as the primary factor affecting vehicle comfort. This systematic review, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, bridges the gap between biological fluid mechanics and automotive engineering by synthesizing recent advances in aerodynamic mechanisms and bionic control strategies. Based on a comprehensive search of Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SAE Mobilus, and Google Scholar for the literature published between 2016 and 2025, 90 eligible studies were analyzed to provide a rigorous evidence-based synthesis. The review details complex flow phenomena, such as turbulent separation and vortex shedding across key regions like A-pillars and mirrors, drawing parallels to bio-inspired fluid–structure interactions. Numerical prediction methods, including large eddy simulation (LES), detached eddy simulation (DES), and lattice boltzmann method (LBM), are critically examined for their efficacy in resolving both conventional and bionic flow structures. A significant focus is placed on bio-inspired mitigation technologies, where quantitative findings demonstrate substantial noise suppression: specifically, the reviewed data shows that bionic riblet surfaces on tires can reduce noise levels by up to 5.18 dB, while beetle-head-inspired protuberances on exterior mirrors can achieve reductions of up to 10 dB. Finally, this work suggests future research directions in integrated fluid–acoustic–structural simulation frameworks and self-adaptive bionic systems, providing a robust reference for developing high-performance, low-noise vehicles inspired by natural organisms.