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Description
This study proposes the use of an acoustic metamaterial in the wheel arch to reduce the noise generated by tire-road contact. The method employed is based primarily on the use of a simplified numerical model of a wheel arch that combines finite elements with boundary elements to evaluate the impact of an acoustic absorption treatment in this area. Based on this assessment, an acoustic metamaterial consisting of parallel micro-perforated panels is selected and optimized to achieve the target performance in terms of absorption, dimensions, and frequency range. Finally, the expected absorption coefficient is verified by several ways, using an analytical model, a numerical model, and a Kundt tube based measurements of the 3D-printed model. The obtained results pave the way for full-scale evaluation of such metamaterial device in a wheel arch.