Coherent large-scale structures in high Reynolds number supersonic jets
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Burrin, R. H..
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Large-scale coherent structures are found to exist in fully expanded shock free supersonic jets with Reynolds number 1.6 million and Mach number 1.4. The jet was excited by a weak upstream tone to extract the large-scale structures from the random turbulence. The most preferential excitation Strouhal number is found to be in the vicinity of 0.4, and the dependence of the large-scale structure phase velocity on the excitation Strouhal number shows a similar trend to that found for subsonic acoustically excited jets.
Two impulsive sound sources, one using multiple acoustic drivers and the other using a spark discharge were developed to study the acoustic reflection characteristics of hard-walled wind tunnels, and the results of laboratory tests are presented. The analysis indicates that though the intensity of the pulse generated by the spark source was higher than that obtained from the acoustic source, the number of averages needed for a particular test may require an unacceptibly long tunnel-run time due to the low spark generation repeat rate because of capacitor charging time. The additional hardware problems associated with the longevity of electrodes and electrode holders in sustaining the impact of repetitive spark discharges, show the multidriver acoustic source to be more suitable for this application.
The Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) contract, awarded recently to Lockheed by the NASA-Lewis Research Center, required a comprehesive series of near field acoustic measurements. These were to use transducers mounted on the surfaces on a one-ninth scale model of the Gulfstream G-II aircraft, modified to the PTA single propfan testbed configuration. The 16-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center was chosen as the facility to be used for these model acoustic tests. Since the tunnel was hard-walled, it is not clear to what extent the propfan noise signals, reaching the various transducers, might be contaminated by reflections from the walls. A Multidriver Acoustic Source was built, and using an impulse and time domain averaging technique, the reflection contaminations in the wind tunnel were measured at selected microphone locations. Results of the investigations of near field measurements exists, due to reflections from the hard walls of the wind tunnnel.
The flow structure of a 50.8 mm (2 in) diameter jet operated at a full expanded Mach number of 1.37, with Reynolds numbers in the range 1.7 to 2.35 million, was examined for the first 20 jet diameters. To facilitate the study of the large scale structure, and determine any coherence, a discrete tone acoustic excitation method was used. Phase locked flow visualization as well as laser velocimeter quantitative measurements were made. The main conclusions derived from this study are: (1) large scale coherent like turbulence structures do exist in large Reynolds number supersonic jets, and they prevail even beyond the potential core; (2) the most preferential Strouhal number for these structures is in the vicinity of 0.4; and (3) quantitatively, the peak amplitudes of these structures are rather low, and are about 1% of the jet exit velocity. Finally, since a number of unique problems related to LV measurements in supersonic jets were encountered, a summary of these problems and lessons learned therefrom are also reported.
This paper describes the effects of upstream excitation on the flow characteristics of tone-excited jet under static as well as simulated forward velocity conditions. The data presented include axial and radial distributions of mean velocities and turbulence intensities as functions of excitation conditions. Results for both unheated and heated jets are presented. The measured distributions of pressures associated with the large-scale turbulence are also presented for some test conditions.
(Previously cited in issue 24, p. 4245, Accession no. A81-48640)
A detailed study to understand the phenomenon of broadband jet-noise amplification produced by upstream discrete-tone sound excitation has been carried out. This has been achieved by simultaneous acquisition of the acoustic, mean velocity, turbulence intensities, and instability-wave pressure data. A 5.08 cm diameter jet has been tested for this purpose under static and also flight-simulation conditions. An open-jet wind tunnel has been used to simulate the flight effects. Limited data on heated jets have also been obtained. To improve the physical understanding of the flow modifications brought about by the upstream discrete-tone excitation, ensemble-averaged schlieren photographs of the jets have also been taken. Parallel to the experimental study, a mathematical model of the processes that lead to broadband-noise amplification by upstream tones has been developed. Excitation of large-scale turbulence by upstream tones is first calculated. A model to predict the changes in small-scale turbulence is then developed. By numerically integrating the resultant set of equations, the enhanced small-scale turbulence distribution in a jet under various excitation conditions is obtained. The resulting changes in small-scale turbulence have been attributed to broadband amplification of jet noise. Excellent agreement has been found between the theory and the experiments. It has also shown that the relative velocity effects are the same for the excited and the unexcited jets.
Acoustic as well as turbulence measurements were made of tone-excited jets to obtain an understanding of the broadband noise augmentation mechanism. Results for both heated and unheated jets with and without flight simulation are presented for a range of excitation frequencies and levels, as well as for the zero order and first order spinning modes. It is argued that although the phase-locked large-scale turbulence structure is at the root of the noise amplification process, the actual noise generation mechanism lies in the small-scale turbulence. Results show that (1) the phase velocity of the excited large scale instability waves is subsonic relative to the ambient fluid and (2) broadband jet noise is almost uniform at all frequencies. Moreover, when the large-scale and small-scale structures are plotted against forward velocity (for a given upstream excitation level of 141 dB), the change in large-scale turbulence is negligible with forward velocity, whereas the small-scale turbulence decreases for both excited and unexcited jets. Also, the corresponding difference in far-field noise does not appear to change significantly, indicating that the changes in small-scale turbulence are responsible for jet noise amplification.
The internal noise radiation characteristics for a single stream 12 lobe 24 tube suppressor nozzle, and for a dual stream 36 chute suppressor nozzle were investigated. An equivalent single round conical nozzle and an equivalent coannular nozzle system were also tested to provide a reference for the two suppressors. The technique utilized a high voltage spark discharge as a noise source within the test duct which permitted separation of the incident, reflected and transmitted signals in the time domain. These signals were then Fourier transformed to obtain the nozzle transmission coefficient and the power transfer function. These transmission parameters for the 12 lobe, 24 tube suppressor nozzle and the reference conical nozzle are presented as a function of jet Mach number, duct Mach number polar angle and temperature. Effects of simulated forward flight are also considered for this nozzle. For the dual stream, 36 chute suppressor, the transmission parameters are presented as a function of velocity ratios and temperature ratios. Possible data for the equivalent coaxial nozzle is also presented. Jet noise suppression by these nozzles is also discussed.
The results of an experimental and theoretical study of many of the fundamental details of sound propagation in hard wall and soft wall annular flow ducts are reported. The theory of sound propagation along such ducts and the theory for determining the complex radiation impedance of higher order modes of an annulus are outlined, and methods for generating acoustic duct modes are developed. The results of a detailed measurement program on propagation in rigid wall annular ducts with and without airflow through the duct are presented. Techniques are described for measuring cut-on frequencies, modal phase speed, and radial and annular mode shapes. The effects of flow velocity on cut-on frequencies and phase speed are measured. Comparisons are made with theoretical predictions for all of the effects studies. The two microphone method of impedance is used to measure the effects of flow on acoustic liners. A numerical study of sound propagation in annular ducts with one or both walls acoustically lined is presented.