Supersonic propeller noise in a uniform flow

Abstract

The reported investigation is concerned with an extension of a theory presented by Hawkings and Lowson (1974). The extension considers also forward flight. Attention is given to the retarded potential solution of the convected wave equation, the Fourier components of acoustic pressure, the zones of relative silence and Doppler amplification, and the asymptotic evaluation of a noise field for a large wave number. The discussed analysis provides the Fourier coefficients of the acoustic signature of a supersonic rotor in a uniform flow. The results are represented by an integral over the blade planform which must be evaluated numerically. The fast Fourier transform can be employed for the Fourier inversion.