Engineering topics

Metcalf, V. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Metcalf, V. L..

5 records

NASA NTRS1992

Active control of sound transmission/radiation from elastic plates by vibration inputs. II - Experiments

Actively controlled harmonic force inputs were applied experimentally to reduce the sound transmitted through an elastic circular plate. The control implementation used a time domain least mean square adaptive algorithm with two error sensors. The control forces were applied directly to the plate by point force vibration inputs, while the error information and performance were measured in the radiated acoustic field by microphones. Test cases were also performed in which the error sensors were accelerometers mounted on the plate. When accelerometers were used as error sensors, the controller performance was degraded; leading to the conclusion that minimizing plate motion does not necessarily lead to an associated decrease in radiated sound levels. In contrast, the results show excellent attenuation of the transmitted sound field when microphone error sensors were used. This result was consistent over a range of frequencies. In addition, the experimental results are compared to previously derived analytical results and the effect of using a point or global minimization scheme is discussed.

Metcalf, V. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Experiments on structural control of sound transmitted through an elastic plate

Active control of sound transmission through an elastic plate has been experimentally studied. The control was applied directly to the plate by point force vibration inputs, and the error information and performance was measured in the radiated acoustic field by discrete microphones. Test cases were studied in which the error sensors were accelerometers mounted on the plate. A time-domain least-mean-squares adaptive algorithm was used as the basis of the control system design. The results showed an impressive increase in plate transmission loss over a wide range of frequencies with a maximum of two control shakers. The advantages of using error information derived from the radiated acoustic field rather than structural response is demonstrated. The mechanisms behind the efficiency of this control approach are discussed.

Fuller, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Structureborne noise in aircraft

The amount of noise reaching an aircraft's interior by structureborne paths, when high levels of other noises are present, involves the measurement of transfer functions between vibrating levels on the wing and interior noise. The magnitude of the structureborne noise transfer function is established by exciting the aircraft with an electrodynamic shaker; a second transfer function is measured using the same sensor locations with the aircraft engines operating. Attention is given to the case of a twin-turboprop OV-10A aircraft; the resulting transfer function values at the discrete frequencies corresponding to the propeller blade passage frequency and its first four harmonics are tabulated and illustrated.

Clevenson, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Structureborne noise in aircraft: Modal tests

As part of an investigation to develop measurement techniques for structureborne noise, three modal surveys have been conducted on an OV-10A aircraft and the results have been presented. The purpose of the modal surveys was to identify suitable locations for mounting accelerometer and strain gages in subsequent tests in which transfer functions relating wing vibration to interior noise were to be determined. These surveys are as follows:(1) wing/fuselage modal survey utilizing one shaker under the right wing; (2) complete wing modal survey utilizing two shakers, one under each wing; and (3) fuselage side panel modal survey utilizing a small instrumented hammer. The predominant frequencies and damping ratios for each analysis were listed in tables. The primary mode shapes at the lower frequencies and at frequencies near the expected engine driving frequencies have been shown for each survey.

Clevenson, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Modal response and noise transmission of composite panels

Noise transmission through flat, angular, fiber-reinforced composite panels is investigated experimentally and analytically. A modal decomposition technique was used to obtain solutions to the governing differential equation of motion. Experimental modal analysis was performed in order to confirm the theoretical results. The test specimens were cross-ply and angle-ply composite panels made of various concentrations of fiberglass, graphite, or aramid fibers embedded in epoxy resion. The experimental results showed good agreement with the theoretical calculations. Graphs of the transmission loss characteristics of the different composite panels are provided.

Grosveld, F. W.↗