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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10

Effect of thickness on airfoil surface noise

Noise emission from very small chord and very large chord airfoils was measured with eleven 0.63 cm microphones placed along a horizontal semicircle (4.57 m radius) that was centered at the leading edge of the test airfoil. The noise signals were analyzed by an automated spectrum analyzer which yielded 1/3-octave band sound pressure level spectra for each microphone, and the data were corrected to remove the effects of atmospheric attenuation and jet noise. It is found that the effect of thickness is large and must be accounted for in any fundamental airfoil noise theory that attempts to describe the noise emitted from real airfoils. Incident mean velocity gradients and compressibility must also be taken into account. The effect of thickness increases with frequency, with thick airfoils being quieter than thin ones.

Olsen, W.↗

An evaluation of noise and its effects on shuttle crewmembers during STS-50/USML-1

High noise levels can lead to physiological, psychological, and performance effects in man, ranging from irritability, annoyance, and sleep interference to interference with verbal communication and fatigue, and to temporary or permanent threshold shift at more extreme levels. The current study evaluated the acoustic environment of the STS50/USML-1 mission. The major objectives were to gain subjective assessments of the STS-50 noise levels, document impacts of noise upon crewmember performance, collect inflight sound level measurements, compare noise levels across missions, evaluate the current Shuttle acoustic criterion, and to make recommendations regarding noise specifications for SSF and other long-duration manned space missions. Sound measurements indicated that background noise levels were 60, 64, and 61 A-weighted decibels, respectively, on the Orbiter middeck, flight deck, and Space lab. All levels were rated acceptable, with the Spacelab environment rated the most favorably. Sleep stations afforded attenuation from airborne noise sources, although all crewmembers reported being awakened by crew activity on the middeck. Models of distance for acceptable speech communications were generated, identifying situations of compromised verbal communications to be avoided.

Koros, Anton↗

Experiments on reduction of propeller induced interior noise by active control of cylinder vibration

The feasibility of reducing interior noise caused by advanced turbo propellers by controlling the vibration of aircraft fuselages was investigated by performing experiments in an anechoic chamber with an aircraft model test rig and apparatus. It was found that active vibration control provides reasonable global attenuation of interior noise levels for the cases of resonant (at 576 Hz) and forced (at 708 Hz) system response. The controlling mechanism behind the effect is structural-acoustic coupling between the shell and the contained field, termed interface modal filtering.

Fuller, C. R.↗

Acoustic characteristics of externally blown flap systems with mixer nozzles

Noise tests were conducted on a large scale, cold flow model of an engine-under-the-wing externally blown flap lift augmentation system employing a mixer nozzle. The mixer nozzle was used to reduce the flap impingement velocity and, consequently, try to attenuate the additional noise caused by the interaction between the jet exhaust and the wing flap. Results from the mixer nozzle tests are summarized and compared with the results for a conical nozzle. The comparison showed that with the mixer nozzle, less noise was generated when the trailing flap was in a typical landing setting (e.g., 60 deg). However, for a takeoff flap setting (20 deg), there was little or no difference in the acoustic characteristics when either the mixer or conical nozzle was used.

Goodykoontz, J. H.↗

Acoustic characteristics of externally blown flap systems with mixer nozzles

Noise tests were conducted on a large-scale cold-flow model of an engine-under-the-wing externally blown flap lift augmentation system employing a mixer nozzle. The mixer nozzle was used to reduce the flap impingement velocity and, consequently, to try to attenuate the additional noise caused by the interaction between the jet exhaust and the wing flap. Results from the mixer nozzle tests are summarized and compared with the results for a conical nozzle. The comparison showed that, with the mixer nozzle, less noise was generated when the trailing flap was in a typical landing setting (e.g., 60 deg). However, for a takeoff flap setting (20 deg), there was little or no difference in the acoustic characteristics when either the mixer or conical nozzle was used.

Goodykoontz, J. H.↗

Duct liner optimization for turbomachinery noise sources

An acoustical field theory for axisymmetric, multisectioned lined ducts with uniform flow profiles was combined with a numerical minimization algorithm to predict optimal liner configurations having one, two, and three sections. Source models studied include a point source located on the axis of the duct and rotor/outlet-stator viscous wake interaction effects for a typical research compressor operating at an axial flow Mach number of about 0.4. For this latter source, optimal liners for equipartition-of energy, zero-phase, and least-attenuated-mode source variations were also calculated and compared with exact results. It is found that the potential benefits of liner segmentation for the attenuation of turbomachinery noise is greater than would be predicted from point source results. Furthermore, effective liner design requires precise knowledge of the circumferential and radial modal distributions.

Lester, H. C.↗

K sub A-band weather-dependent system performance estimates for Goldstone

A K sub A band atmospheric noise temperature and attenuation statistical model is developed for Goldstone, based on water vapor radiometer measurements at 31.4 GHz made during winter and spring 1981. An equivalent X-band model is derived from these measurements, and the two sets of data are compared to determine the possible advantages of developing DSN telecommunications links at 32 GHz. For a nominal elevation angle of 30 degrees and identical antennas, it is found that a K sub A band system at Goldstone will show a 5 to 1 dB signal-to-noise ratio advantage oer an X-band system more than 99 percent of the time.

Clauss, R. C.↗

Far-field radiation of AFT turbofan noise

The far-field radiation from the end of an exhaust duct is studied using both approximate and exact methods. Experimental data of narrow-band tone noise from static tests are compared to a multimodal radiation pattern. It is pointed out that possibly the exhaust noise in the far-field is inherently more difficult to attenuate than an inlet noise using duct suppressors.

Rice, E. J.↗

Associated Particle Imaging of Neutron Inelastic Scatter: 3-D Reconstruction, Capabilities, and Challenges

Associated particle imaging (API) offers unique advantages for 3-D imaging of neutron inelastic scatter, including single-view tomographic imaging and data acquisition when access is limited to only one side of the interrogated object. However, widespread adoption of neutron inelastic scatter imaging has been impeded by several inherent challenges, most prominently spatial resolution, self-attenuation, and statistical noise. Here, in this work, the capabilities and challenges of neutron inelastic scatter imaging are investigated. Instead of focusing on a single imaging application, we identify imaging principles that hold for various neutron inelastic scatter imaging techniques. The primary challenges for 3-D imaging are characterized. The inherent spatial resolution in the time-of-flight (TOF) dimension is derived based on the known system timing resolution and scan geometry. Three reconstruction algorithms are described and demonstrated, including the introduction of modern iterative reconstruction incorporating a physics-based system model. Simulation is leveraged to demonstrate imaging capability with varying coincidence count levels and system timing resolution. An example of measured data with both back-scatter and forward-scatter detector positioning is presented. System design characteristics and their effects on image quality are identified. The imaging framework presented in this article has the potential to facilitate growth of 3-D neutron inelastic scatter API by identifying applications that are a good match for the technique and by targeting system development resources toward the requirements of a specific imaging task.

Associated particle imaging (API)↗

Highly stable microwave delay line

TWM /Traveling Wave Master/ comb structure serves as a highly stable microwave delay line for determining the short-term stability of the hydrogen maser frequency standards used in the deep space network. Cryogenic cooling is used to minimize signal attenuation and thermal noise.

Higa, W. H.↗

Phase insensitive acoustoelectric transducer

Conventional ultrasonic transducers transform acoustic waves into electrical signals preserving phase and amplitude information. When the acoustic wavelength is significantly smaller than the transducer diameter, severe phase modulation of the electrical signal can occur. This results in anomalous attenuation measurements, background noise in nondestructive evaluation, and in general complicates data interpretation. This article describes and evaluates a phase-insensitive transducer based on the acoustoelectric effect. Theory of operation of the acoustoelectric transducer (AET) is discussed, and some optimization procedures outlined for its use. Directivity data for the AET are contrasted with a conventional piezoelectric transducer. In addition, transmission scanning data of phantom flaws in metal plates are presented for both transducers and demonstrate a significant improvement in resolution with the AET.

Heyman, J. S.↗

Noise and loss in balanced and subharmonically pumped mixers. I - Theory. II - Application

The theory of noise and frequency conversion for two-diode balanced and subharmonically pumped mixers is presented. The analysis is based on the equivalent circuit of the Schottky diode, having nonlinear capacitance, series resistance, and shot and thermal noise. Expressions for the conversion loss, noise temperature, and input and output impedances are determined in a form suitable for numerical analysis. In Part II, the application of the theory to practical mixers is demonstrated, and the properties of some two-diode mixers are examined. The subharmonically pumped mixer is found to be much more strongly affected by the loop inductance than the balanced mixer, and the ideal two-diode mixer using exponential diodes has a multiport noise-equivalent network (attenuator) similar to that of the ideal single-diode mixer. It is concluded that the theory can be extended to mixers with more than two diodes and will be useful for their design and analysis, provided a suitable nonlinear analysis is available to determine the diode waveforms.

Kerr, A. R.↗

Comments on settling chamber design for quiet, blowdown wind tunnels

Transfer of an existing continous circuit supersonic wind tunnel to Langley and its operation there as a blowdown tunnel is planned. Flow disturbance requirements in the supply section and methods for reducing the high level broad band acoustic disturbances present in typical blowdown tunnels are reviewed. Based on recent data and the analysis of two blowdown facilities at Langley, methods for reducing the total turbulence levels in the settling chamber, including both acoustic and vorticity modes, to less than one percent are recommended. The pertinent design details of the damping screens and honeycomb and the recommended minimum pressure drop across the porous components providing the required two orders of magnitude attenuation of acoustic noise levels are given. A suggestion for the support structure of these high pressure drop porous components is offered.

Beckwith, I. E.↗

Cryogenic Equivalence Principle Experiment

The purpose of this project is to test the equivalence of inertial and passive gravitational mass in an Earth-orbiting satellite. A ground-based experiment is now well developed. It consists of comparing the motions of two cylindrical test masses suspended in precision superconducting magnetic bearings and free to move along the horizontal (axis) direction. The masses are made of niobium and lead-plated aluminum. A position detector based on a SQUID magnetometer measures the differential motion between the masses. The periods of the masses are matched by adjustment of the position detector until the system is insensitive to common mode signals, and so that the experiment is less sensitive to seismic vibration. The apparatus is contained in a twelve inch helium dewar suspended in a vibration isolation stand. The stand achieves 30 db isolation from horizontal motions between 0.1 and 60 Hz, by simulating the motion of a 200 meter long pendulum with an air bearing. With this attenuation of seismic noise and a common mode rejection ratio of 10 to the 5th power in the differential mode, the ground based apparatus should have a sensitivity to equivalence principle violations of one part in 10 to the 13th power; the satellite version might have a sensitivity of one part in 10 to the 17th power.

Everitt, C. W. F.↗

Active minimization of energy density in three-dimensional enclosures

The objective of this research project is to further investigate and develop a novel approach for actively controlling the sound field in enclosures. Typically the acoustic field in an enclosure has been controlled by minimizing the sum of the squared pressures from several microphones distributed throughout the enclosure. The approach being investigated in this project involves minimizing the acoustic energy density at the sensor locations, rather than the squared pressure. Previous research in a simple one-dimensional enclosure showed that improved global attenuation of the acoustic field is often obtained by minimizing the energy density, rather than the pressure. The current project builds on the previous research by extending the method of controlling the acoustic energy density to three-dimensional enclosures. The results will establish if improved control can still be expected in a more general enclosure. Pending successful results, the method could be applied to control problems such as attenuating the acoustic noise in an aircraft fuselage, an automobile cabin, or other general enclosures. The research project was set up as a two-year project designed to achieve both numerical and experimental results. The primary focus of the first year of research (now being completed) was on the analytical/numerical modeling of the method of controlling the acoustic energy density. During the second year, the research focuses on experimental verification of the approach and extending our understanding of the method.

Sommerfeldt, Scott D.↗

Full-Scale Turbofan-Engine Turbine-Transfer Function Determination Using Three Internal Sensors

Existing NASA/Honeywell EVNERT full-scale static engine test data is analyzed by using source-separation techniques in order to determine the turbine transfer of the currently sub-dominant combustor noise. The results are used to assess the combustor-noise prediction capability of the Aircraft Noise Prediction Program (ANOPP). Time-series data from three sensors internal to the Honeywell TECH977 research engine is used in the analysis. The true combustor-noise turbine-transfer function is educed by utilizing a new three-signal approach. The resulting narrowband gain factors are compared with the corresponding constant values obtained from two empirical acoustic-turbine-loss formulas. It is found that a simplified Pratt & Whitney formula agrees better with the experimental results for frequencies of practical importance. The 130 deg downstream-direction far-field 1/3-octave sound-pressure levels (SPL) results of Hultgren & Miles are reexamined using a post-correction of their ANOPP predictions for both the total noise signature and the combustion-noise component. It is found that replacing the standard ANOPP turbine-attenuation function for combustion noise with the simplified Pratt & Whitney formula clearly improves the predictions. It is recommended that the GECOR combustion-noise module in ANOPP be updated to allow for a user-selectable switch between the current transmission-loss model and the simplified Pratt & Whitney formula. The NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program has the principal objective of overcoming today's national challenges in air transportation. The Subsonic Fixed Wing Project's Reduce-Perceived-Noise Technical Challenge aims to develop concepts and technologies to dramatically reduce the perceived aircraft noise outside of airport boundaries. The reduction of aircraft noise is critical to enabling the anticipated large increase in future air traffic.

Hultgren, Lennart S.↗