Tailpipe sound quality in a three-cylinder engine

The tailpipe noise of the exhaust system plays an important role in the subjective impression of the car in context of car makers requiring a particular sound pattern for a car or a vehicle platform. First of all, a benchmark test was conducted. The measurements showed that three-cylinder engines have many different sound colorations, from the very sporty to quiet and luxury saloon-like. The loudness measurement confirms that car H is the quietest car. The other three cars are about the same, except for at the end of the run-up process, when flow noise levels in car B drive the loudness higher. The sound simulation tool presented in the following is based on the computational results obtained from acoustic and fluid mechanics software. The main focus is on the tailpipe sound simulation of a WOT run-up.