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Jordan Cluts

Publications and source records attributed to Jordan Cluts.

Acoustics Technical Working Group and UAM Noise Working Group Proceedings

The NASA Acoustics Technical Working Group Meeting originally started as a program planning meeting in 1992 and has grown through the years. The purpose of these biannual meetings is to foster communication and collaboration among NASA researchers and their university, industry, and government colleagues on activities and work of current and future mutual interest. The NASA-led Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Noise Working Group (UNWG) Meeting began in 2018 as a one-day meeting immediately following the Acoustics Technical Working Group Meeting. The UNWG utilizes four subgroups that conduct regular meetings throughout the year to focus on challenges facing UAM vehicles for community noise and acceptance. The four subgroups coordinate research for development of noise prediction tools/noise reduction technologies, ground and flight test methods, human response and metrics, and regulations and policy (led by the FAA). This work is a compilation of the presentations given at ATWG/UNWG Fall 2022 held in person and via Teams at NASA Glenn Research Center. All NASA content was previously submitted through STRIVES for public presentation. This is merely a compilation. Non-NASA content has permission to distribute. Slide 208 video is included in the Available Downloads as Medial.MOV.

Advanced Air Mobility

Progress on Electric Motor Noise Modeling

Progress toward the development of a motor noise model for system type studies is presented. The presentation focuses on efforts to model the motor shell vibrations and the resulting acoustic radiation. Finite element and experimental modal analysis results for a 4 kW motor are presented and compared. An analytical model for the acoustic radiation is presented.

Urban Air Mobility

Preliminary Analysis of Moog SureFly Electric Motor Noise Measurements

The results of acoustics measurements on the installed and unloaded axial-flux electric motor used on the Moog SureFly® vehicle are presented and compared to previous ground run-up measurements for the vehicle. The directivity of the motor was found to be significantly different than that obtained for much smaller 2 – 4 kW radial flux motors tested previously in the Acoustic Test Laboratory at NASA Glenn. Significant radiation occurred at shaft orders between 17 and 20 and at order 30. Peak radiation levels occurred near the highest speeds expected for the vehicle. There was an indication that some of the tones appearing in the spectra obtained in the previous ground run-up test were associated with the motor.

Urban Air Mobility

Update on Electric Motor Noise

Electric motors like those used in concept Advanced Air Mobility vehicles generate noise relevant to the acoustic profile of those vehicles. This work presents ongoing efforts to study, understand, and predict the noise generated by these types of motors. Efforts to perform experimental and simulation investigations of motor vibration modes are presented. Then recent acoustic measurements of operating motors and the resonant tones they generate is discussed. Lastly an update of ongoing efforts to measure real world vehicles is provided.

Electric motor noise

Moog SureFly® Hover Test Update

An update on the Moog SureFly vehicle acoustic hover test is presented. The intent of the effort was to acquire data that will be used to identify the acoustic far-field for the vehicle and the importance of electric motor noise relative to other sound sources for hover. The data will also be available to assess sound levels for future vertiports. The flights were completed in June 2022 at the Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field.

jet noise

Status of Moog SureFly Hover Test and Progress on Noise Prediction Efforts

An update on the Moog SureFly vehicle acoustic hover test and predictions is presented. Data were acquired for a 15’ hover altitude. Preliminary predictions using CAMRAD coupled with ANOPP have been completed. The predictions are currently using a generic blade geometry. High resolution blade scans have been initiated for the same type of rotor as that used on the SureFly vehicle and the resulting coordinates will be implemented in future prediction efforts. Plans for a future hover test at higher altitudes are discussed.

jet noise

Development and Validation of an Initial Electric Motor Rotor Vibration Model

An overview of the development of a low fidelity prediction tool for electric motor rotor resonant modes and frequencies. These predictions are useful for the prediction of UAM motor noise during the design phase. Finite Element Analysis of motor rotors has led to the development of a parameterized model to predict these modes shapes. This has in turn allowed to a curve-fit based model from parametric sweeps. These curves can predict resonant frequencies and shapes for 1-5kW class motors without running a simulation.

acoustics

Moog S-250 Vehicle Hover Test Update

Acoustic measurements were made with the Moog SureFly vehicle in hover and for the vehicle performing a combined takeoff and landing maneuver. The objectives of the effort were to identify the far field, obtain data to construct a noise hemisphere for prediction tool validation, and to obtain out-and back data for use in perceived noise studies. Vehicle telemetry data and future plans for the acoustic analysis were presented.

Urban Air Mobility Noise

Use of an Uninhabited Aircraft System (UAS) for Atmospheric Observations During an Acoustic Flight Test

A jet noise test was performed at Niagara Falls International Airport using a Calspan Learjet 25 by acoustics researchers at NASA Glenn Research Center in partnership with Calspan personnel and Uninhabited Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots and sensor operators from NASA Langley Research Center. To account for atmospheric attenuation in the de-propagation of jet noise from a ground-based microphone array to the source for comparison with model data collected in a facility at NASA GRC, a vertical profile of atmospheric conditions was required. To that end, a sUAS was flown with a weather sensor package measuring atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature in a range of altitudes from ground level to 304.8 m (1,000 ft) above ground level (AGL). The sUAS flights were performed concurrently with and adjacent to the Learjet flight path. Data from these UAS flights are presented herein; additionally, comparisons with conventional balloon-borne instrumentation are made with a particular focus on the quality and capability of UAS-based observations for acoustic flight test applications. Furthermore, a ground-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system was deployed for collecting wind magnitude and direction for discrete altitudes up to 304.8 m (1,000 ft) AGL. Data from the LiDAR unit will be presented and discussed in the context of aircraft acoustic flight testing. This effort was supported by NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology project.

UAS

An Initial Electric Motor Rotor Vibration Model

Ongoing integration of outrunner brushless electric motors into drones and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft presents a need for accurate acoustic predictions derived from prediction of the motor rotor vibrations. In outrunner motors, the external rotor vibrates and drives the acoustic field. At resonant frequencies of the rotor, the rotor displacements will be the largest. The vibrations can lead to acoustic tones that are relevant to the overall acoustic design of these types of vehicles. This study performs a finite element analysis to assess the modes in two electric motor rotors. This model is then refined into a simple parameterized geometry that can make the same predictions for motors of the same class. A parametric sweep and least-squares-curve fit to the finite element analysis data results in a series of simple curves that can predict the mode shapes and frequencies that are likely to appear in this class of motors without the need for any simulation. The simulations are validated by comparison to acoustic and experimental modal-analysis data.

Electric Motor Noise

An Initial Vibro-Acoustic Model for Predicting Electric Motor Noise

A system-level tool to predict electric motor noise, suitable for trade studies of eVTOL and UAM aircraft, does not exist. This work describes the ongoing effort to develop such a tool. It utilizes a 3 phase prediction routine that models the electro-magnetic interactions of the electric motor, the resulting structural vibrations of the motor rotor, and finally the acoustic propagation generated by those structural vibrations.

Electric Motor Noise