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At least 271 records · Page 15

Method and apparatus for evaluating multilayer objects for imperfections

A multilayer object having multiple layers arranged in a stacking direction is evaluated for imperfections such as voids, delaminations and microcracks. First, an acoustic wave is transmitted into the object in the stacking direction via an appropriate transducer/waveguide combination. The wave propagates through the multilayer object and is received by another transducer/waveguide combination preferably located on the same surface as the transmitting combination. The received acoustic wave is correlated with the presence or absence of imperfections by, e.g., generating pulse echo signals indicative of the received acoustic wave, wherein the successive signals form distinct groups over time. The respective peak amplitudes of each group are sampled and curve fit to an exponential curve, wherein a substantial fit of approximately 80-90% indicates an absence of imperfections and a significant deviation indicates the presence of imperfections. Alternatively, the time interval between distinct groups can be measured, wherein equal intervals indicate the absence of imperfections and unequal intervals indicate the presence of imperfections.

Heyman, Joseph S.↗

Scattering of sound waves by a compressible vortex

Scattering of plane sound waves by a compressible vortex is investigated by direct computation of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Nonreflecting boundary conditions are utilized, and their accuracy is established by comparing results on different sized domains. Scattered waves are directly measured from the computations. The resulting amplitude and directivity pattern of the scattered waves is discussed, and compared to various theoretical predictions. For compact vortices (zero circulation), the scattered waves directly computed are in good agreement with predictions based on an acoustic analogy. Strong scattering at about + or - 30 degrees from the direction of incident wave propagation is observed. Back scattering is an order of magnitude smaller than forward scattering. For vortices with finite circulation refraction of the sound by the mean flow field outside the vortex core is found to be important in determining the amplitude and directivity of the scattered wave field.

Colonius, Tim↗

Sound propagation studies for a large horizontal axis wind turbine

Systematic noise measurements in three directions with respect to the wind vector, over a range of distances to 1050 m, over a range of frequencies from 8 Hz to 2000 Hz, and for a stable wind turbine noise source (WTS-4) in windy conditions (V = 9.4 to 13.0 m/s) are presented. At frequencies above 63 Hz in the downwind and crosswind directions the sound pressure levels decay with distance according to predictions based on atmospheric absorption and spherical spreading, assuming no excess attenuation due to ground effects. In the upwind direction there is excess attenuation due to an acoustic shadow zone. The assumption of a distributed noise source leads to better noise estimates in the upwind direction. For very low frequencies 8 to 16 Hz no excess attenuation was observed in the upwind direction at distances up to 1050 m and a sound pressure level decay rate of approximately 3 dB per doubling of distance was observed in the downwind direction.

Shepherd, K. P.↗

Measurements and Predictions of the Noise from Three-Stream Jets

An experimental and numerical investigation of the noise produced by high-subsonic and supersonic three-stream jets was conducted. The exhaust system consisted of externally-mixed-convergent nozzles and an external plug. Bypass- and tertiary-to-core area ratios between 1.0 and 2.5, and 0.4 and 1.0, respectively, were studied. Axisymmetric and offset tertiary nozzles were investigated for heated and unheated conditions. For axisymmetric configurations, the addition of the third stream was found to reduce peak- and high-frequency acoustic levels in the peak-jet-noise direction, with greater reductions at the lower bypass-to-core area ratios. For the offset configurations, an offset duct was found to decrease acoustic levels on the thick side of the tertiary nozzle relative to those produced by the simulated two-stream jet with up to 8 dB mid-frequency noise reduction at large angles to the jet inlet axis. Noise reduction in the peak-jet-noise direction was greater for supersonic core speeds than for subsonic core speeds. The addition of a tertiary nozzle insert used to divert the third-stream jet to one side of the nozzle system provided no noise reduction. Noise predictions are presented for selected cases using a method based on an acoustic analogy with mean flow interaction effects accounted for using a Green's function, computed in terms of its coupled azimuthal modes for the offset cases, and a source model previously used for round and rectangular jets. Comparisons of the prediction results with data show that the noise model predicts the observed increase in low-frequency noise with the introduction of a third, axisymmetric stream, but not the high-frequency reduction. For an offset third stream, the model predicts the observed trend of decreased sound levels on the thick side of the jet compared with the thin side, but the predicted azimuthal variations are much less than those seen in the data. Also, the shift of the spectral peak to lower frequencies with increasing polar angle is over-predicted. For an offset third stream with a heated core, it is shown that including the enthalpy-flux source terms in the acoustic analogy model improves predictions compared with those obtained using only the momentum flux.

Three-Stream Jets↗

Measurements and Predictions of the Noise from Three-Stream Jets

An experimental and numerical investigation of the noise produced by high-subsonic and supersonic three-stream jets was conducted. The exhaust system consisted of externally-mixed-convergent nozzles and an external plug. Bypass- and tertiary- to-core area ratios between 1.0 and 2.5, and 0.4 and 1.0, respectively, were studied. Axisymmetric and offset tertiary nozzles were investigated for heated and unheated conditions. For axisymmetric configurations, the addition of the third stream was found to reduce peak- and high-frequency acoustic levels in the peak-jet-noise direction, with greater reductions at the lower bypass-to-core area ratios. For the offset configurations, an offset duct was found to decrease acoustic levels on the thick side of the tertiary nozzle relative to those produced by the simulated two-stream jet with up to 8 dB mid-frequency noise reduction at large angles to the jet inlet axis. Noise reduction in the peak-jet-noise direction was greater for supersonic core speeds than for subsonic core speeds. The addition of a tertiary nozzle insert used to divert the third-stream jet to one side of the nozzle system provided no noise reduction. Noise predictions are presented for selected cases using a method based on an acoustic analogy with mean flow interaction effects accounted for using a Green's function, computed in terms of its coupled azimuthal modes for the offset cases, and a source model previously used for round and rectangular jets. Comparisons of the prediction results with data show that the noise model predicts the observed increase in low-frequency noise with the introduction of a third, axisymmetric stream, but not the high-frequency reduction. For an offset third stream, the model predicts the observed trend of decreased sound levels on the thick side of the jet compared with the thin side, but the predicted azimuthal variations are much less than those seen in the data. Also, the shift of the spectral peak to lower frequencies with increasing polar angle is over-predicted. For an offset third stream with a heated core, it is shown that including the enthalpy-flux source terms in the acoustic analogy model improves predictions compared with those obtained using only the momentum- flux.

Three-Stream Jets↗

A Computational and Experimental Study of Resonators in Three Dimensions

In a previous work by the present authors, a computational and experimental investigation of the acoustic properties of two-dimensional slit resonators was carried out. The present paper reports the results of a study extending the previous work to three dimensions. This investigation has two basic objectives. The first is to validate the computed results from direct numerical simulations of the flow and acoustic fields of slit resonators in three dimensions by comparing with experimental measurements in a normal incidence impedance tube. The second objective is to study the flow physics of resonant liners responsible for sound wave dissipation. Extensive comparisons are provided between computed and measured acoustic liner properties with both discrete frequency and broadband sound sources. Good agreements are found over a wide range of frequencies and sound pressure levels. Direct numerical simulation confirms the previous finding in two dimensions that vortex shedding is the dominant dissipation mechanism at high sound pressure intensity. However, it is observed that the behavior of the shed vortices in three dimensions is quite different from those of two dimensions. In three dimensions, the shed vortices tend to evolve into ring (circular in plan form) vortices, even though the slit resonator opening from which the vortices are shed has an aspect ratio of 2.5. Under the excitation of discrete frequency sound, the shed vortices align themselves into two regularly spaced vortex trains moving away from the resonator opening in opposite directions. This is different from the chaotic shedding of vortices found in two-dimensional simulations. The effect of slit aspect ratio at a fixed porosity is briefly studied. For the range of liners considered in this investigation, it is found that the absorption coefficient of a liner increases when the open area of the single slit is subdivided into multiple, smaller slits.

Tam, C. K. W.↗

Acoustics Considerations for Propulsion Airframe Integration

Many NASA and industry advanced airframe configurations involve highly integrated installations of the propulsion system either directly into the airframe or in close proximity. Current acoustic challenges resulting from highly integrated propulsion installations will be reviewed as well as the ongoing NASA efforts to quantify these impacts to improve noise estimates of future systems and guide noise reduction technology maturation activities.

Propulsion Airframe Integration↗

Rotor blade-vortex interaction impulsive noise source identification and correlation with rotor wake predictions

An acoustic source localization scheme applicable to noncompact moving sources is developed and applied to the blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise data of a 40-percent scale BO-105 model rotor. A generalized rotor wake code is employed to predict possible VBI locations on the rotor disk and is found quite useful in interpreting the acoustic localization results. The highly varying directivity patterns of different BVI impulses generated at the same test condition are explained by both the localization results and predicted tip vortex trajectories. The effects of rotor tip-path-plane angle and advance ratio on the BVI source positions is studied. Decreasing tip-path-plane angle (at constant advance ratio) moves the general interaction region upwind on the rotor disk, significantly changing the interaction geometry. Increasing advance ratio (at constant tip-path-plane angle) shifts the general source region downwind on the rotor disk with the increased convection of the vortices until about 60 deg azimuth, where the BVI sources appear to become acoustically less effective. The region of strongest BVI sources lies between 60 and 70 deg azimuth and 80 and 90 percent radius for the moderate range of advance ratios studied.

Splettstoesser, W. R.↗

Effects of simulated flight on fan noise suppression

Attenuation properties of three treated fan inlets were evaluated in the NASA-Lewis Anechoic Wind Tunnel using a subsonic tip speed, 50.8 cm-diameter fan. Tunnel flow simulated the inflow clean-up effect on source noise observed in flight and allowed observation of the blade passage frequency tone cut-off phenomenon. Acoustic data consisted of isolated inlet noise measured in the far field at two positions and with traverses at four frequencies. Averaged attenuation properties showed relative agreement of the inlets with their design intent; however, tunnel flow significantly affected the attenuation spectra. With no tunnel flow the strong blade passage tone was more highly attenuated than the adjacent broadband noise. With tunnel flow, when cut-off was observed, the attenuation at the tone frequency was comparable to that for broadband noise. Tunnel flow increased by several dB the maximum attenuation occurring at midfrequencies of the attenuation spectra. The combined effect of tunnel flow on attenuation and source noise resulted in suppressed fan noise levels throughout the spectra. Tunnel flow caused some substantial directivity variations that are interpreted as acoustic mode changes, with tunnel flow generally reducing the proportion of modes near cut-off.

Heidmann, M. F.↗

Comparison of Acoustic Models and Trajectory Generation Methods for an Acoustically-Aware Aircraft

This paper presents a comparison of trajectory generation methodologies using acoustic source noise models of different fidelity for motion planning for an acoustically-aware aircraft subject to constraints on the vehicle dynamic performance, mission, and acoustic footprint of the vehicle at a set of (three-dimensional) observer locations. The performance of a pre-mission Bézier curve-based planner and a (near) real-time stochastic model predictive control planner are compared. Additionally, a comparison is made between the motion planning performance using a lower-fidelity acoustic model based on propeller tip Mach number and omni-directional sound power radiation, and a hemisphere-based higher-fidelity acoustic model. It is demonstrated that the asymmetry in hemisphere-based acoustic model can be exploited for improved flight path planning and trajectory-tracking performance in the presence of acoustic constraints.

Kasey A Ackerman↗

Propeller-induced structure-borne noise - Laboratory-based test apparatus

A potentially important source of structure-borne interior noise transmission in advanced turboprop aircraft is the impingement of the propeller wake/vortex on downstream aerodynamic surfaces. The expected levels of propeller wake/vortex-induced structure-borne noise transmission are not known nor can they be determined with present-day technology. A test apparatus has been designed, built and calibrated for the purposes of studying propeller-induced, structure-borne noise transmission in prototypical aircraft structures. The principal approach to the test apparatus design was to provide a physical means of separating the airborne and structure-borne noise components so that the structure-borne noise transmission response could be studied directly without airborne noise contamination. This was accomplished by housing the receiving fuselage structure in an acoustic shield fitted with a wing-to-fuselage acoustic seal. Initial evaluation of the wing-to-fuselage acoustic seal indicates adequate airborne noise isolation to allow direct study of structure-borne noise transmission.

Unruh, J. F.↗

In Search of the Physics: NASA's Approach to Airframe Noise

An extensive numerical and experimental study of airframe noise mechanisms associated with a subsonic high-lift system has been performed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). Investigations involving both steady and unsteady computations and experiments on small-scale models with part-span flaps and full-span flaps are presented. Both surface (steady and unsteady pressure measurements, hot films, oil flows, pressure sensitive paint) and off-surface (5 holeprobe, particle-imaged velocimetry, laser velocimetry, laser light sheet measurements) were taken in the LaRC Quiet Flow Facility (QFF) and several hard-wall tunnels. Experiments in the Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (LTPT) included Reynolds number variations up to flight conditions. Successful microphone array measurements were also taken providing both acoustic source maps on the model, and quantitative spectra. Critical directivity measurements were obtained in the QFF. NASA Langley unstructured and structured Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes codes modeled the steady aspects of the flows. Excellent comparisons with surface and off-surface experimental data were obtained. Subsequently, these meanflow calculations were utilized in both linear stability and direct numerical simulations of the flow fields to calculate unsteady surface pressures and farfield acoustic spectra. Accurate calculations were critical in obtaining not only noise source characteristics, but shear layer correction data as well. Techniques utilized in these investigations as well as brief overviews of the results are given.

Macaraeg, Michele G.↗

Core Noise Diagnostics of Turbofan Engine Noise Using Correlation and Coherence Functions

Cross-correlation and coherence functions are used to look for periodic acoustic components in turbofan engine combustor time histories, to investigate direct and indirect combustion noise source separation based on signal propagation time delays, and to provide information on combustor acoustics. Using the cross-correlation function, time delays were identified in all cases, clearly indicating the combustor is the source of the noise. In addition, unfiltered and low-pass filtered at 400 Hz signals had a cross-correlation time delay near 90 ms, while the low-pass filtered at less than 400 Hz signals had a cross-correlation time delay longer than 90 ms. Low-pass filtering at frequencies less than 400 Hz partially removes the direct combustion noise signals. The remainder includes the indirect combustion noise signal, which travels more slowly because of the dependence on the entropy convection velocity in the combustor. Source separation of direct and indirect combustion noise is demonstrated by proper use of low-pass filters with the cross-correlation function for a range of operating conditions. The results may lead to a better idea about the acoustics in the combustor and may help develop and validate improved reduced-order physics-based methods for predicting direct and indirect combustion noise.

Miles, Jeffrey H.↗

An experimental study of the structure and acoustic field of a jet in a cross stream

The investigation reported is related to studies of the noise generated by a lifting jet in forward motion such as in the case of a V/STOL aircraft. The investigation involved experiments in a subsonic wind tunnel. The two-microphone cross-correlation method used for measuring the acoustic intensity provides data concerning the noise directly radiated from the source, practically free from any reflection effects. The theoretical basis of the two-microphone method is discussed along with the experimental apparatus, the characteristics of the flow inside the jet, and the features of the acoustic field.

Camelier, I.↗

Acoustic power of a moving point source in a moving medium

The acoustic power output of a moving point-mass source in an acoustic medium which is in uniform motion and infinite in extent is examined. The acoustic medium is considered to be a homogeneous fluid having both zero viscosity and zero thermal conductivity. Two expressions for the acoustic power output are obtained based on a different definition cited in the literature for the average energy-flux vector in an acoustic medium in uniform motion. The acoustic power output of the source is found by integrating the component of acoustic intensity vector in the radial direction over the surface of an infinitely long cylinder which is within the medium and encloses the line of motion of the source. One of the power expressions is found to give unreasonable results even though the flow is uniform.

Cole, J. E., III↗

Optical fiber interferometer for the study of ultrasonic waves in composite materials

The possibility of acoustic emission detection in composites using embedded optical fibers as sensing elements was investigated. Optical fiber interferometry, fiber acoustic sensitivity, fiber interferometer calibration, and acoustic emission detection are reported. Adhesive bond layer dynamical properties using ultrasonic interface waves, the design and construction of an ultrasonic transducer with a two dimensional Gaussian pressure profile, and the development of an optical differential technique for the measurement of surface acoustic wave particle displacements and propagation direction are also examined.

Claus, R. O.↗

Stability of electron distributions within the earth's bow shock

The present examination of the linear Vlasov stability of a class of electron velocity distributions modeling those observed within the earth's bow shock is restricted to electrostatic waves propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field B. Two instabilities are identified as driven by free energy in the direction parallel to B: an ion acoustic wave with real frequency below the ion plasma frequency, and an electron acoustic wave whose real frequency is several times the ion plasma frequency. Unstable wave characteristics are in accord with the trend of the observed electrostatic waves toward polarization parallel to the magnetic field. The instabilities identified may contribute to electron dissipation in collisionless shocks.

Thomsen, M. F.↗