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At least 397 records · Page 22

Noise radiation from V/STOL aircraft.

This paper presents a detailed evaluation of design factors affecting noise annoyance by V/STOL aircraft. Community noise annoyance is quantified on the basis of recent analyses of survey data, and the implications on V/STOL design discussed. The effect of fundamental design choices on noise levels is analysed. The principal noise sources, and therefore the optimum noise control measures, are a function of disc loading. It is found that increase in rotor scale gives a substantial benefit in subjective levels at the lower disc loadings. Rotor noise source mechanisms are discussed in detail and the dominant effect of the unsteady aerodynamic input to the rotor demonstrated. Data on the effects of recirculation on noise is presented. Two approaches for low noise V/STOL seem to be feasible. These are the low disc loading open rotor, and a ducted fan with substantial duct attenuation treatment. The principal noise control methods for each approach are given.

Lowson, M. V.↗

Arousal from sleep by noises from aircraft with and without acoustically treated nacelles

The electroencephalographic and behavioral responses during sleep of four subjects, aged 46 to 58 years, to three types of noises were tested over 14 consecutive nights. The stimuli were two DC-8 jet landing noises (each 30 seconds in duration and coming from DC-8 aircraft with and without acoustical treatment on the engine nacelles) and a 4-second burst of pink noise. Each of the noises was tested at nominal intensities of 61 and 79 dBA. Other physical descriptors of the noises were measured or computed. The results indicate that for an equivalent degree of sleep disruption, noise form the jet aircraft with untreated nacelles must be about 6 dBA less intense than the jet with acoustically treated nacelles. Predictions of the effects of noise on sleep appear, tentatively, to attain the highest accuracy when the physical descriptor of noise intensity includes information about the impulsive characteristics of that noise as well as its long-term spectral content.

Lukas, J. S.↗

Effects on sleep of noise from two proposed STOL aircraft

Responses, both overt behavior and those measured by electroencephalograph, to noise by eight male subjects were studied for sixteen consecutive nights. Test stimuli were: (1) The simulated sideline noise of a short takeoff and landing aircraft with blown flaps; (2) the simulated sideline noise of a STOL aircraft of turbofan design; (3) the simulated takeoff noise of the blown flap STOL aircraft; and (4) a four second burst of simulated pink noise. Responses to each noise were tested at three noise intensities selected to represent levels expected indoors from operational aircraft. The results indicate that the blown flap STOL aircraft noise resulted in 8 to 10 percent fewer sleep disturbance responses than did the turbofan STOL aircraft when noises of comparable intensities from similar maneuvers were used.

Lukas, J. S.↗

Thunderstorms observed by radio astronomy Explorer 1 over regions of low man made noise

Radio Astronomy Explorer (RAE) I observations of thunderstorms over regions of low man-made noise levels are analyzed to assess the satellite's capability for noise source differentiation. The investigation of storms over Australia indicates that RAE can resolve noise generation due to thunderstorms from the general noise background over areas of low man-made noise activity. Noise temperatures observed by RAE over stormy regions are on the average 10DB higher than noise temperatures over the same regions in the absence of thunderstorms. In order to determine the extent of noise contamination due to distant transmitters comprehensive three dimensional computer ray tracings were generated. The results indicate that generally, distant transmitters contribute negligibly to the total noise power, being 30DB or more below contributions arriving from an area immediately below the satellite.

Caruso, J. A.↗

Study of noise sources in a subsonic fan using measured blade pressures and acoustic theory

Sources of noise in a 1.4 m (4.6 ft) diameter subsonic tip speed propulsive fan running statically outdoors are studied using a combination of techniques. Signals measured with pressure transducers on a rotor blade are plotted in a format showing the space-time history of inlet distortion. Study of these plots visually and with statistical correlation analysis confirms that the inlet flow contains long, thin eddies of turbulence. Turbulence generated in the boundary layer of the shroud upstream of the rotor tips was not found to be an important noise source. Fan noise is diagnosed by computing narrowband spectra of rotor and stator sound power and comparing these with measured sound power spectra. Rotor noise is computed from spectra of the measured blade pressures and stator noise is computed using the author's stator noise theory. It is concluded that the rotor and stator sources contribute about equally at frequencies in the vicinity of the first three harmonics of blade passing frequency. At higher frequencies, the stator contribution diminishes rapidly and the rotor/inlet turbulence mechanism dominates. Two parametric studies are performed by using the rotor noise calculation procedure which was correlated with test. In the first study, the effects on noise spectrum and directivity are calculated for changes in turbulence properties, rotational Mach number, number of blades, and stagger angle. In the second study the influences of design tip speed and blade number on noise are evaluated.

Hanson, D. B.↗

Combustion contribution to noise in jet engines

The relative importance of combustion as a source of noise in a flow regime representative of a subsonic jet engine exhaust was investigated. The combustion noise source characteristics were obtained from pressure and temperature fluctuation measurements in the combustor and exhaust nozzle. The similarity between the fluctuations in this source region and the far field noise were compared. In the jet exhaust velocity range between 450 and 660 ft/sec investigated in detail, the frequencies of dominant pressure and temperature fluctuations in the combustor were also the frequencies of the dominant far field noise. The overall noise levels were 14 to 20 dB higher than from a corresponding clean jet in the same velocity range. Thus it seemed clear that the unsteadiness associated with the combustion process was responsible for the dominant noise in the far field. A simple analysis to predict the far field noise due to the internal pressure fluctuations causing exit plane velocity fluctuations produced trends closely resembling the measured results, but under predicted the far field noise over the spectral range examined. The possible reason for the higher far field noise is direct transmission of acoustic waves through the nozzle, which was not accounted for in the prediction scheme.

Plett, E. G.↗

Measurement, analysis, and prediction of aircraft interior noise

Considerations of comfort of passengers and crew in light aircraft and helicopters indicate substantial benefits may be obtained by the reduction of interior noise levels. This paper discusses an ongoing research effort to reduce interior noise in such vehicles. Data from both field and laboratory studies for a light aircraft are presented. The laboratory data indicate that structural vibration is an efficient source of interior noise and should be considered in the reduction of interior noise. Flight data taken on a helicopter before and after installation of acoustic treatment demonstrate that over 30 dB of noise reduction can be obtained in certain portions of the spectra. However, subjective evaluations of the treated vehicle indicate that further reductions in interior noise are desirable. An existing interior noise prediction method which was developed for large jet transports was applied to study low-frequency noise in a light aircraft fuselage. The results indicate that improvements in the analytical model may be necessary for the prediction of interior noise of light aircraft.

Howlett, J. T.↗

Aeroacoustics: Acoustic wave propagation; Aircraft noise prediction; Aeroacoustic instrumentation

The papers in this volume deal with recent research into acoustic-wave propagation through the atmosphere and progress in aeroacoustic instrumentation, facilities, and test techniques. Topics include the propagation of aircraft noise over long distances in the lower atmosphere, measured effects of turbulence on the rise time of a weak shock, sound scattering from atmospheric turbulence, saturation effects associated with sound propagation in a turbulent medium, and a computer model of the lightning-thunder process. Other papers discuss the development of a computer system for aircraft noise prediction; aircraft flyover noise measurements; and theories and methods for the prediction of ground effects on aircraft noise propagation, for the prediction of airframe aerodynamic noise, for turbine noise prediction, and for combustion noise prediction. Attention is also given to the use of Hartmann generators as sources of high-intensity sound in a large absorption flow-duct facility, an outdoor jet noise facility, factors in the design and performance of free-jet acoustic wind tunnels, and the use of a laser shadowgraph for jet noise diagnosis.

Schwartz, I. R.↗

New developments in blown flap noise technology

The noise technology relating to blown-flap systems is reviewed. There are three general sources of noise: turbomachinery, airframe, and the interaction noise of the jet blowing on the flaps. The latter noise-source area is the most critical and the main subject dicussed. Characteristics of lower surface blown and upper surface blown systems are described, including noise spectra, directivity, jet velocity characteristics, aircraft geometric variation effects, and aircraft forward speed effects. Noise reduction concepts are described, including slowing down the jet flow field by devices and engine cycle modifications, structural geometry and shielding modifications, local flow field modifications of the passive and active type, and the absorption of noise. It is concluded that, while there has been considerable progress in the past several years, low noise characteristics in blown flap aircraft must be largely built in by better application of low noise principles during the design.

Gibson, J. S.↗

Experimental and analytical separation of hydrodynamic, entropy and combustion noise in a gas turbine combustor

This paper deals with noise sources which are central to the problem of core engine noise in turbopropulsion systems. The sources dealt with are entropy noise and direct combustion noise, as well as a non-propagating psuedosound which is hydrodynamic noise. It is shown analytically and experimentally that a transition can occur from a combustion noise dominant situation to an entropy noise dominant case if the contraction of a terminating nozzle to the combustor is high enough. In the combustor tested, entropy noise is the dominant source for propagational noise if the combustor is choked at the exit. Analysis techniques include spectral, cross spectral, cross correlation, and ordinary and partial coherence analysis. Measurements include exterior and interior fluctuating and mean pressures and temperatures.

Muthukrishnan, M.↗

Comparison of low-frequency noise levels of the Concorde supersonic transport with other commercial service airplanes

Fifty-two airplane noise recordings, made at several locations around Dulles International Airport, were analyzed to compare the low-frequency noise levels of the Concorde supersonic transport with those of other commercial jet airplanes. Comparisons of the relative low-frequency noise levels which were produced at close and distant locations for departures and arrivals were made for three noise measures: the sound pressure level in the 1/3 octave band centered at 20 Hz, the total sound pressure level in the 1/3 octave bands with center frequencies less than or equal to 125 Hz, and the total sound pressure level in the 1/3 octave bands with center frequencies less than or equal to 500 Hz. Although the absolute noise levels for Concorde were found, in general, to be higher than those for the other airplane types, the level of low-frequency noise of the Concorde relative to the perceived noise level (PNL), effective perceived noise level (EPNL), and overall sound pressure level (OASPL) was within the range established by the other airplane types, except for the arrival operations of four-engine, narrow-body airplanes. The measure OASPL was found to be a significantly better predictor of low-frequency noise level than PNL or EPNL.

Powell, C. A.↗

Aircraft flyover noise prediction

A review is conducted of the prediction techniques for CTOL aircraft noise sources which are presently implemented in the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Program (ANOPP). The sources considered include jet noise, fan noise, combination noise, and airframe noise. Questions related to propagation prediction methods, source shielding, atmospheric attenuation, and ground attenuation are also described. It is pointed out that ANOPP is designed to make predictions of varying degrees of complexity, or amounts of detail, depending on the needs of the user. These different degrees of complexity are called levels of prediction. The prediction methods being used imply a similarity law for aircraft noise. Propulsion noise is proportional to mass flow for a selected engine cycle and, since thrust is also proportional to mass flow, aircraft with a fixed thrust-to-weight ratio will have their propulsion noise proportional to weight.

Zorumski, W. E.↗

State-of-the-art of turbofan engine noise control

A description is presented of some of the recent advances in the technology of turbofan engine noise reduction, taking into account turbomachinery noise sources, new fans for low noise, fan and core noise suppression, and a new program for improving static noise testing of fans and engines. The problem of jet noise has been substantially reduced in connection with the lower jet velocities employed in the case of the high bypass turbofan engines. The dominant noise sources are now related to the turbomachinery with the fan stage, the compressor, and the turbine. Since the fan stage is the primary source of turbomachinery noise, it has been considered in a major part of the investigations designed to reduce turbofan engine noise.

Jones, W. L.↗

A jet exhaust noise prediction procedure for inverted velocity profile coannular nozzles

Acoustic model tests have demonstrated that significant noise suppression can be obtained from inverted velocity profile coannular nozzles. An acoustic prediction procedure was developed for inverted velocity profile coannular nozzles that can be used to predict SPL spectra as a function of nozzle geometry and flow conditions. In the development of this prediction procedure, the noise spectrum at a given angle was decomposed into four noise components: a low frequency mixing noise component, a high frequency mixing noise component, an outer stream shock noise component, and an inner stream shock noise component. The physics of the inverted velocity flow field development was used to formulate noise generation models. Scaling laws for each noise component were defined based on these models. Comparisons of predictions from this procedure with experimental data were conducted to verify the prediction procedure.

Larson, R. S.↗

Annoyance due to multiple airplane noise exposure

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the annoyance effects of multiple aircraft noise exposure in which 250 subjects judged the annoyance of half-hour periods of airplane noise simulative of typical indoor home exposures. The variables of the aircraft noise exposure were the peak noise level of flyovers, which was constant within each period, and the number of flyovers. Each subject judged 5 of the possible 25 factorial combinations of level and number. Other variables investigated included the experience of the test subjects in making annoyance judgments and their home exposure to airplane noise. The annoyance judgments increased with both noise level and number of flyovers. The increased annoyance produced by doubling the number of flyovers was found to be the equivalent of a 4 to 6 db increase in noise level. The sensitivity of the subjects to changes in both noise level and number of flyovers increased with laboratory experience. Although the means of the annoyance judgments made in the laboratory were found to decrease with the subjects' home exposure to aircraft noise, the subjects' sensitivities to changes in both level and number were unaffected by their home exposure.

Powell, C. A.↗

NASA progress in aircraft noise prediction

Langley Research Center efforts to develop a methodology for predicting the effective perceived noise level (EPNL) produced by jet-powered CTOL aircraft to an accuracy of + or - 1.5 dB are summarized with emphasis on the aircraft noise prediction program (ANOPP) which contains a complete set of prediction methods for CTOL aircraft including propulsion system noise sources, aerodynamic or airframe noise sources, forward speed effects, a layered atmospheric model with molecular absorption, ground impedance effects including excess ground attenuation, and a received noise contouring capability. The present state of ANOPP is described and its accuracy and applicability to the preliminary aircraft design process is assessed. Areas are indicated where further theoretical and experimental research on noise prediction are needed. Topics covered include the elements of the noise prediction problem which are incorporated in ANOPP, results of comparisons of ANOPP calculations with measured noise levels, and progress toward treating noise as a design constraint in aircraft system studies.

Raney, J. P.↗

Airframe noise of a small model transport aircraft and scaling effects

Airframe noise of a 0.01 scale model Boeing 747 wide-body transport was measured in the Langley Anechoic Noise Facility. The model geometry simulated the landing and cruise configurations. The model noise was found to be similar in noise characteristics to that possessed by a 0.03 scale model 747. The 0.01 scale model noise data scaled to within 3 dB of full scale data using the same scaling relationships as that used to scale the 0.03 scale model noise data. The model noise data are compared with full scale noise data, where the full scale data are calculated using the NASA aircraft noise prediction program.

Shearin, J. G.↗

Computer program to predict aircraft noise levels

Methods developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center for predicting the noise contributions from various aircraft noise sources were programmed to predict aircraft noise levels either in flight or in ground tests. The noise sources include fan inlet and exhaust, jet, flap (for powered lift), core (combustor), turbine, and airframe. Noise propagation corrections are available for atmospheric attenuation, ground reflections, extra ground attenuation, and shielding. Outputs can include spectra, overall sound pressure level, perceived noise level, tone-weighted perceived noise level, and effective perceived noise level at locations specified by the user. Footprint contour coordinates and approximate footprint areas can also be calculated. Inputs and outputs can be in either System International or U.S. customary units. The subroutines for each noise source and propagation correction are described. A complete listing is given.

Clark, B. J.↗