Multi-physics phenomena influencing the performance of the car horn

Usually cars are equipped with disk horns. In these devices electromagnetic energy is converted into mechanical energy of two nuclei that vibrate and impact each other – the impacts excite the disk that radiates sound. This paper aims at understanding the results of acoustic tests carried out on horns with different excitation voltages and different mounting brackets. Since many non-linear phenomena are inherent in the vibrations of the nuclei, a detailed model of the electromechanical system is developed. Results show the dependence of operating frequency on the input voltage and the role played by the various mechanical and electrical parameters on the dynamics of the horn. Particular nonlinear effects, like sub-harmonic excitation, are presented and discussed. A general agreement between experimental results and numerical simulations is found.