Sound generation by a stenosis in a pipe

Abstract

This paper presents a computational aeroacoustics study of sound generated by low Mach number flow through a closure (stenosis) in a circular pipe. The time-dependent incompressible flowfield in the pipe is first computed utilizing a vorticity/stream function formulation. The known velocity field is then utilized to determine the incompressible fluctuating pressure in the pipe. This hydrodynamic pressure field is then utilized to compute a hydrodynamic density perturbation to the constant incompressible density through the equation of state. Knowledge of this complete hydrodynamic field is then employed as the source of the resulting sound radiation. This tripartite technique allows separation of the compressible fluctuations from the purely hydrodynamic fluctuations. Results of the analysis are compared with experimental measurements of sound radiated by such a flow.