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At least 217 records · Page 12

The propeller tip vortex. A possible contributor to aircraft cabin noise

Although the assumption is generally made that cabin noise levels are governed by the transmission of propeller generated noise through the fuselage sidewall, it was postulated that the propeller wake striking the wing, in particular pressure disturbances generated downstream of the propeller by the action of the propeller tip vortex, could be strong enough to excite the aircraft structure and contribute to the cabin noise level. Tests conducted to measure the strength of the propeller tip vortex support this hypothesis. It was found that the propeller tip vortex can produce a fluctuation pressure on a simulated wing surface in the wake of a propeller that exceeds by more than 15 dB the maximum direct noise that would strike the fuselage. Wing surface response to propeller tip vortex induced excitations, and the effectiveness of this response in radiating noise to the cabin interior, must be established to assess the full significance of these results.

Miller, B. A.↗

Sonic Boom Ground Noise Minimization Via the Adjoint Method

A multidisciplinary design optimization methodology to directly minimize the ground-level noise generated by the sonic boom of a high altitude supersonic body is presented. A Cartesian Euler flow solver is coupled with an atmospheric propagation tool to create a ground-noise analysis capability for supersonic bodies. Adjoint formulations for both the flow solver and propagation tool are also coupled to compute sensitivities of shape variations in the body in a highly efficient manner. A gradient-based optimizer is then introduced to forge a valuable design capability. Output-based mesh adaptation that is driven directly by ground-level noise is employed to increase accuracy and provide error estimation. The design method is demonstrated first on a simple axisymmetric body with few design variables to evaluate the efficacy of the optimization scheme. Guided by the results of this initial case, the problem is then repeated with somewhat different design variables to further demonstrate the capabilities of the design method. Finally, the method is applied to a real-world problem by optimizing control surface deflection settings of a low-boom aircraft to minimize ground noise while maintaining trimmed, level flight.

ARMD↗

Hover performance tests of full scale variable geometry rotors

Full scale whirl tests were conducted to determine the effects of interblade spatial relationships and pitch variations on the hover performance and acoustic signature of a 6-blade main rotor system. The variable geometry rotor (VGR) variations from the conventional baseline were accomplished by: (1) shifting the axial position of alternate blades by one chord-length to form two tip path planes; and (2) varying the relative azimuthal spacing from the upper rotor to the lagging hover rotor in four increments from 25.2 degrees to 62.1 degrees. For each of these four configurations, the differential collective pitch between upper and lower rotors was set at + or - 1 deg, 0 deg and -1 deg. Hover performance data for all configurations were acquired at blade tip Mach numbers of 0.523 and 0.45. Acoustic data were recorded at all test conditions, but analyzed only at 0 deg differential pitch at the higher rotor speed. The VGR configurations tested demonstrated improvements in thrust at constant power as high as 6 percent. Reductions of 3 PNdb in perceived noise level and of 4 db in blade passage frequency noise level were achieved at the higher thrust levels. Consistent correlation exists between performance and acoustic improvements. For any given azimuth spacing, performance was consistently better for the differential pitch condition of + or - 1 degree, i.e. with the upper rotor pitch one degree higher than the lower rotor.

Rorke, J. B.↗

Preliminary measurements of quality factors of monocrystals

High Q's were obtained with silicon and sapphire crystals on four points mechanical suspensions. Instrumentation was developed to observe the approach to thermal equilibrium at cryogenic temperatures and to study thermal noise level and fluctuations. High Q crystals with low thermal noise level are promising candidates as high stability time references.

Richard, J. P.↗

Rye Canyon X-ray noise test: One-third octave-band data

Acoustic data were obtained for the 25 ft. diameter X-wing rotor model during performance testing of the rotor system in hover. Data collected at the outdoor whirl tower test facility with a twelve microphone array were taken for approximately 150 test conditions comprised of various combinations of RPM, blade pressure ratio (BPR), and blade angle of attack (collective). The three test parameters had four values of RPM from 404 to 497, twelve values of BPR from 1.0 to 2.1, and six values of collective from 0.0 deg to 8.5 deg. Fifteen to twenty seconds of acoustic data were reduced to obtain an average 1/3 octave band spectrum for each microphone for each test condition. The complete, as measured, 1/3 octave band results for all the acoustic data are listed. Another part of the X-wing noise test was the acoustic calibration of the Rye Canyon whirl tower bowl. Corrections were computed which, when applied to as measured data, yield estimates of the free field X-wing noise. The free field estimates provide a more realistic measure of the rotor system noise levels. Trend analysis of the three test parameters on noise level were performed.

Willshire, W. L., Jr.↗

Aeroacoustic Simulations of a Nose Landing Gear Using FUN3D on Pointwise Unstructured Grids

Numerical simulations have been performed for a partially-dressed, cavity-closed (PDCC) nose landing gear configuration that was tested in the University of Florida's open-jet acoustic facility known as the UFAFF. The unstructured-grid flow solver FUN3D is used to compute the unsteady flow field for this configuration. Mixed-element grids generated using the Pointwise(TradeMark) grid generation software are used for these simulations. Particular care is taken to ensure quality cells and proper resolution in critical areas of interest in an effort to minimize errors introduced by numerical artifacts. A hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes/large eddy simulation (RANS/LES) turbulence model is used for these simulations. Solutions are also presented for a wall function model coupled to the standard turbulence model. Time-averaged and instantaneous solutions obtained on these Pointwise grids are compared with the measured data and previous numerical solutions. The resulting CFD solutions are used as input to a Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings noise propagation code to compute the farfield noise levels in the flyover and sideline directions. The computed noise levels compare well with previous CFD solutions and experimental data.

Vatsa, Veer N.↗

Investigation of fuselage acoustic treatment for a twin-engine turboprop aircraft in flight and laboratory tests

A flight and laboratory study of sidewall acoustic treatment for cabin noise control is described. In flight, cabin noise levels were measured at six locations with three treatment configurations. Noise levels from narrow-band analysis are reduced to one-third octave format and used to calculate insertion loss, IL, defined as the reduction of interior noise associated with the addition of a treatment. Laboratory tests used a specially constructed structural panel modeled after the propeller plane section of the aircraft sidewall, and acoustic treatments representing those used in flight. Lab measured transmission loss and absorption values were combined using classical acoustic procedures to obtain a prediction of IL. Comparison with IL values measured in flight for the boundary layer component of the noise indicated general agreement.

Mixson, J. S.↗

Noise comparisons of single and two stage demonstrator fans for advanced technology aircraft

A high-speed single-stage and a low-speed two-stage fan were designed, fabricated and tested to demonstrate their predicted low noise performance for an advanced 0.85-0.90 cruise Mach number aircraft requiring a 1.8-1.9 pressure ratio fan. Acoustic tests were made with both unsuppressed and suppressed configurations. The two-stage fan demonstrated that quiet fan technology developed for low-speed single-stage fan is applicable to two-stage designs. The unsuppressed two-stage fan was 3-5 dB quieter than the high-speed single-stage fan at the same pressure ratio. The unsuppressed high-speed single-stage fan demonstrated that significant reductions in inlet noise can be achieved from the sonic blockage caused by supersonic flow in the rotor blading. Both fans demonstrated suppressed inlet noise levels with treated sonic inlets that met advanced technology goals. Suppressed aft noise levels did not meet expectations for either fan. The aft noise problem is attributed to both excessive source noise and ineffective treatment performance.

Heidmann, M. F.↗

Level, peculiarities and effects of coal mine noise on pit workers

There exists a correlation between noise intensity and spectrum and degree of hearing impairment in the different professional categories in the pit. Most affected are dross miners and drillers. In these, the first degree of hypoacusia sets in within the first five years of exposure. Deafness begins at a frequency of 4,000 Hz, but often enough (20%) at 2,000 Hz as well, progressively evolving through the classical stages if exposure to noise continues. In the coal bearing basins investigated, the noise level is, on the whole, 31.2%, but the conventional zone is not involved by more than 6.3%. Technological and medical measures are proposed for the purpose of avoiding these troubles in the future.

Darlea, I. G.↗

Optimal application of Morrison's iterative noise removal for deconvolution. Appendices

Morrison's iterative method of noise removal, or Morrison's smoothing, is applied in a simulation to noise-added data sets of various noise levels to determine its optimum use. Morrison's smoothing is applied for noise removal alone, and for noise removal prior to deconvolution. For the latter, an accurate method is analyzed to provide confidence in the optimization. The method consists of convolving the data with an inverse filter calculated by taking the inverse discrete Fourier transform of the reciprocal of the transform of the response of the system. Various length filters are calculated for the narrow and wide Gaussian response functions used. Deconvolution of non-noisy data is performed, and the error in each deconvolution calculated. Plots are produced of error versus filter length; and from these plots the most accurate length filters determined. The statistical methodologies employed in the optimizations of Morrison's method are similar. A typical peak-type input is selected and convolved with the two response functions to produce the data sets to be analyzed. Both constant and ordinate-dependent Gaussian distributed noise is added to the data, where the noise levels of the data are characterized by their signal-to-noise ratios. The error measures employed in the optimizations are the L1 and L2 norms. Results of the optimizations for both Gaussians, both noise types, and both norms include figures of optimum iteration number and error improvement versus signal-to-noise ratio, and tables of results. The statistical variation of all quantities considered is also given.

Ioup, George E.↗

Concerning the damping coefficients of exterior building elements for aerial noise

The values employed to define the sound reduction coefficient of exterior walls for aerial noise do not take into account the continuous increase in the outside noise level nor its energy variation as a function of time. These aspects are analyzed by estimating the outside and inside noise levels on the basis of calculating an equivalent noise (L sub ech), a level with a maximum duration and the values of L sub 10, L sub 50 and L sub 90. The values obtained permit determination of the wall's sound reduction coefficients that are compared with those obtained by the customary method. It is shown that the sound reduction values of the wall coincide for the case of sound levels with a maximum duration and the values of L sub 90.

Pocsa, V.↗

Study of double wall panels for use in propeller driven aircraft

Propeller driven aircraft have exhibited high levels of interior noise. Most absorption materials are not effective at low frequencies where maximum noise levels occur. Two panels separated by an air gap are suggested as an alternative means of noise attenuation. This design produces an impedance mismatch where a sound wave travels backwards to the source. The higher the impedance, the higher the reflected soundwave intensity. Two aluminum panels with helium in between and two panels with one being perforated were investigated. Helium increases the transmission loss because of a greater impedance mismatch than air. The transmission loss of the unperforated panel is higher throughout the frequency range tested.

Atwal, M.↗

Applications of Response Surface-Based Methods to Noise Analysis in the Conceptual Design of Revolutionary Aircraft

Due to the growing problem of noise in today's air transportation system, there have arisen needs to incorporate noise considerations in the conceptual design of revolutionary aircraft. Through the use of response surfaces, complex noise models may be converted into polynomial equations for rapid and simplified evaluation. This conversion allows many of the commonly used response surface-based trade space exploration methods to be applied to noise analysis. This methodology is demonstrated using a noise model of a notional 300 passenger Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) transport. Response surfaces are created relating source noise levels of the BWB vehicle to its corresponding FAR-36 certification noise levels and the resulting trade space is explored. Methods demonstrated include: single point analysis, parametric study, an optimization technique for inverse analysis, sensitivity studies, and probabilistic analysis. Extended applications of response surface-based methods in noise analysis are also discussed.

Hill, Geoffrey A.↗

Combustion noise from gas turbine aircraft engines measurement of far-field levels

Combustion noise can be a significant contributor to total aircraft noise. Measurement of combustion noise is made difficult by the fact that both jet noise and combustion noise exhibit broadband spectra and peak in the same frequency range. Since in-flight reduction of jet noise is greater than that of combustion noise, the latter can be a major contributor to the in-flight noise of an aircraft but will be less evident, and more difficult to measure, under static conditions. Several methods for measuring the far-field combustion noise of aircraft engines are discussed in this paper. These methods make it possible to measure combustion noise levels even in situations where other noise sources, such as jet noise, dominate. Measured far-field combustion noise levels for several turbofan engines are presented. These levels were obtained using a method referred to as three-signal coherence, requiring that fluctuating pressures be measured at two locations within the engine core in addition to the far-field noise measurement. Cross-spectra are used to separate the far-field combustion noise from far-field noise due to other sources. Spectra and directivities are presented. Comparisons with existing combustion noise predictions are made.

Krejsa, Eugene A.↗

Combustion noise from gas turbine aircraft engines measurement of far-field levels

Combustion noise can be a significant contributor to total aircraft noise. Measurement of combustion noise is made difficult by the fact that both jet noise and combustion noise exhibit broadband spectra and peak in the same frequency range. Since in-flight reduction of jet noise is greater than that of combustion noise, the latter can be a major contributor to the in-flight noise of an aircraft but will be less evident, and more difficult to measure, under static conditions. Several methods for measuring the far-field combustion noise of aircraft engines are discussed in this paper. These methods make it possible to measure combustion noise levels even in situations where other noise sources, such as jet noise, dominate. Measured far-field combustion noise levels for several turbofan engines are presented. These levels were obtained using a method referred to as three-signal coherence, requiring that fluctuating pressures be measured at two locations within the engine core in addition to the far-field noise measurement. Cross-spectra are used to separate the far-field combustion noise from far-field noise due to other sources. Spectra and directivities are presented. Comparisons with existing combustion noise predictions are made.

Krejsa, Eugene A.↗

System Noise Assessment and the Potential for a Low Noise Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft with Open Rotor Propulsion

An aircraft system noise assessment was conducted for a hybrid wing body freighter aircraft concept configured with three open rotor engines. The primary objective of the study was to determine the aircraft system level noise given the significant impact of installation effects including shielding the open rotor noise by the airframe. The aircraft was designed to carry a payload of 100,000 lbs on a 6,500 nautical mile mission. An experimental database was used to establish the propulsion airframe aeroacoustic installation effects including those from shielding by the airframe planform, interactions with the control surfaces, and additional noise reduction technologies. A second objective of the study applied the impacts of projected low noise airframe technology and a projection of advanced low noise rotors appropriate for the NASA N+2 2025 timeframe. With the projection of low noise rotors and installation effects, the aircraft system level was 26.0 EPNLdB below Stage 4 level with the engine installed at 1.0 rotor diameters upstream of the trailing edge. Moving the engine to 1.5 rotor diameters brought the system level noise to 30.8 EPNLdB below Stage 4. At these locations on the airframe, the integrated level of installation effects including shielding can be as much as 20 EPNLdB cumulative in addition to lower engine source noise from advanced low noise rotors. And finally, an additional set of technology effects were identified and the potential impact at the system level was estimated for noise only without assessing the impact on aircraft performance. If these additional effects were to be included it is estimated that the potential aircraft system noise could reach as low as 38.0 EPNLdB cumulative below Stage 4.

Thomas, Russell H.↗

Interior and exterior fuselage noise measured on NASA's C-8a augmentor wing jet-STOL research aircraft

Interior and exterior fuselage noise levels were measured on NASA's C-8A Augmentor Wing Jet-STOL Research Aircraft in order to provide design information for the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA), which will use a modified C-8A fuselage. The noise field was mapped by 11 microphones located internally and externally in three areas: mid-fuselage, aft fuselage, and on the flight deck. Noise levels were recorded at four power settings varying from takeoff to flight idle and were plotted in one-third octave band spectra. The overall sound pressure levels of the external noise field were compared to previous tests and found to correlate well with engine primary thrust levels. Fuselage values were 145 + or - 3 dB over the aircraft's normal STOL operating range.

Shovlin, M. D.↗