Car Cabin Acoustics - Frequency Domain Analysis
Application ID: 15013
In this model the acoustics of a car cabin is analyzed in order to study the performance of a sound system in the low to mid frequency range. The cabin is of a typical sedan interior, that is, the inside of a hard-top family car. The model studies the frequency response at the location of a microphone array as well as the modal behavior at low frequencies.
A Thiele-Small representation is used for a generic tweeter and a generic midwoofer speaker. Both a coupled to the acoustic domain using the Lumped Speaker Boundary condition. Simulation is useful when optimizing for speaker locations with respect to mirror sources (sound reflections in the windscreen), damping, for signal processing (DSP) improvement, and other factors.
The model relatively easily solves in the frequency domain up to around 2-3 kHz on a standard desktop computer. The model is solved up to 1 kHz using a direct solver. At 2 kHz and 3 kHz the model is solved with an iterative approach that uses the complex shifted Laplacian method (CSL).

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
- COMSOL Multiphysics® and
- Acoustics Module and
- CAD Import Module and
- either the AC/DC Module, Battery Design Module, MEMS Module, Plasma Module, RF Module, or Semiconductor Module
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.