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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 397 records · Page 22

Effects of Layer Spacing for a Multilayered Facesheet Acoustic Liner

A single degree-of-freedom acoustic liner, a perforate facesheet over honeycomb core, is modified to have a facesheet comprised of three layers. The top and bottom perforate layers have the same dimensions with aligned perforations while the middle layer perforate can be longitudinally shifted up to 0.075 inches to change the effective porosity of the facesheet. These configurations range in porosity from 100% open down to 10% open in addition to two closed configurations (0% porosity). Gaps are introduced between the facesheet layers ranging from no gap to 0.016 inches. These configurations are tested in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube to determine their acoustic impedance spectra. Introduction of a gap affects the acoustic impedance of the liner where the resonant frequency of the liners decreases with increased gap thickness for liners with an open area ratio above 25% but increases with gap thickness for liners with an open area ratio below 25%. Additionally, it is observed that increasing the gap height results in a reduction of the effect of porosity on acoustic impedance. The results show that the presence of such gaps can have a significant effect on liner impedance especially as porosity decreases.

acoustic liners↗

Nonlinear Acoustic Propagation in Low-Density Media

Nonlinear acoustic propagation in the atmosphere is usually modeled using an augmented Burgers equation accounting for atmospheric absorption and weak nonlinearity. However, the weak-nonlinearity assumption may not apply to acoustic signals propagating from the lower atmosphere that are subsequently refracted downward from the upper atmosphere (e.g., stratosphere and thermosphere) due to the decreasing air density with increasing altitude [Lonzaga, et al., Geophysical Journal International, 200(3), pp.1347-1361]. Consequently, this paper discusses the effects of a strong nonlinearity that lead to an amplitude-dependent increase in signal propagation speed. This propagation speed is obtained using a perturbation expansion where the leading-order term is simply the small-amplitude sound speed while the first-order term is the existing expression that gives rise to waveform steepening and stretching. Furthermore, the second-order term is proportional to the spectral density of the acoustic signal and is inversely proportional to the local density of the medium. Consequently, for an impulsive signal such as a sonic boom or an infrasound, the second-order effect causes a dispersion of the signal similar to the observed dispersion of acoustic signals from supersonic Concorde as well as from large explosions. This paper also discusses the extension of these results in general low-density propagation media.

sonic booms↗

Optimization of Variable Depth Acoustic Liners with Grazing Flow

Acoustic liners, typically used as a noise control treatment in the engine nacelles of conventional aircraft, are being considered for noise treatment in the proprotor ducts of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. This work considers a new optimization method to design an acoustic liner with variable depth cavities for broadband and low-frequency attenuation. This method, termed the direct optimization method, minimizes the radiated sound from a duct. In this paper, the new method is compared with an existing indirect method to design multiple variable depth acoustic liners. Acoustic impedances of liners designed using both methods are predicted using a semianalytical impedance model and impedance predictions for two designs are compared to experimental results acquired from grazing flow impedance testing. For the work presented here, liners designed using the indirect approach provide improved attenuation spectra over those designed using the direct approach but potential improvements to the performance of the direction optimization method are discussed.

Proprotor↗

Influence of Source Type on Acoustic Liner Impedance in No Flow

This paper presents findings from a study conducted under a challenge of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR), which consists of partners from various national research labs around the world. A series of normal incidence impedance tube tests are performed to identify differences in acoustic impedance for various types of source excitations. These source types include single-tone, multitone, and broadband. To better understand these differences, six unique acoustic liners are tested using these source types at various sound pressure levels and frequencies. Multitone sources of up to five discrete frequencies at a time (both harmonic and nonharmonic excitations) are included. Predictions are also shown to assess capability of capturing source type in the acoustic liner design process. It is determined that impedance behavior due to single-tone and broadband source excitations is largely well-understood and predictable. Multitone source excitations, however, yield unpredictable impedance characteristics that appear highly dependent on the summed coherent waveform that is incident upon the acoustic liner. Future work on this topic is warranted to improve impedance prediction capability of multitone excitation.

acoustic liner impedance multitone prediction sour↗

Highlights of the Test of the QUiet Electric Engine (QUEEN V1) in the NASA GRC Acoustical Testing Laboratory (ATL)

This presentation for the NASA Acoustics Technical Working Group meeting highlights preliminary acoustic and thermal test results from the Quiet Electric Engine (QUEEN V1) experiment recently performed in the NASA Glenn Research Center Acoustical Testing Laboratory. The QUEEN V1 features a single Commercial-Off-the-Shelf fan with an Outlet Guide Vane. Four inlet duct acoustic liners were tested. Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) temperatures were recorded for two different cooling methods: air cooling and a cold plate.

Acoustics↗

Combustion stabilization with acoustic cavities.

An experimental and analytical study has been performed to develop the technology necessary for effective use of acoustic cavities to suppress acoustic modes of combustion instability. An unbaffled variation of the LM ascent engine has been made dynamically stable with acoustic cavities only; five different cavity configurations were found sufficient to produce dynamic stability. An analytical model was developed to calculate the damping contributed by the cavity. Further, subscale tests were made to determine the nonlinear acoustic impedance of these cavities.

Oberg, C. L.↗

Detection of fiber cracking by acoustic emission.

A theoretical model is presented that relates acoustic emission to fiber cracking which occurs during a rising load tension test on a fiber reinforced composite. The percentage of broken fibers in an Al3Ni fiber reinforced aluminum was measured as a function of tensile strain by optical inspection of the polished surface of strained specimens. This information was used in conjunction with the proposed model to predict the acoustic emission response of the composite material. These predictions were compared with experimental observations, and a good agreement was obtained between the two sets of results. These results indicate that it is possible to relate acoustic emission quantitatively to the micromechanics of the deformation processes occurring within fiber reinforced composites, thereby demonstrating the applicability of acoustic emission to materials studies and also to nondestructive evaluation of the integrity of composite materials.

Harris, D. O.↗

Refraction of acoustic duct waveguide modes by exhaust jets.

The refraction of acoustic duct waveguide modes emitted from the open end of a semiinfinite rectangular duct by a jet-like exhaust flow is studied theoretically. The problem is formulated as a Wiener-Hopf problem and is ultimately solved by an approximate method due to Carrier and Koiter. Continuity of transverse acoustic particle displacement and of acoustic pressure is assumed at the jet/still-air interface. The solution exhibits several features of the acoustics of moving media such as a source convection effect, zones of relative silence, and simple refraction. Plots of far-field directivity patterns are presented for several cases and show refraction effects to be important even at modest exhaust Mach numbers of order 0.3. Only subsonic exhaust Mach numbers are considered.

Mani, R.↗

Experiments on radiatively driven harmonic acoustic waves in a confined gas.

Measurements are presented of the acoustic pressure resulting from the periodic absorption and emission of radiative energy by an infrared-active gas contained in a closed, cylindrical tube. The acoustic waves are generated by means of an external, sinusoidally time-modulated blackbody source. The pressure measurements are for both resonant and nonresonant conditions at acoustic frequencies from about 60 to 600 Hz. Comparison of the measurements with predictions shows that the response is due primarily to the modified-classical acoustic wave, but that a small contribution from the so-called radiation-induced wave can be measured in certain of the tests. Strong effects of vibrational nonequilibrium, similar to those observed previously in spectrophone studies, were found in some of the tests.

Compton, D. L.↗

Developmental design, fabrication, and test of acoustic suppressors for fans of high bypass turbofan engines

An analysis procedure was developed for design of acoustically treated nacelles for high bypass turbofan engines. The plan was applied to the conceptual design of a nacelle for the quiet engine typical of a 707/DC-8 airplane installation. The resultant design was modified to a test nacelle design for the NASA Lewis quiet fan. The acoustic design goal was a 10 db reduction in effective perceived fan noise levels during takoff and approach. Detailed nacelle designs were subsequently developed for both the quiet engine and the quiet fan. The acoustic design goal for each nacelle was 15 db reductions in perceived fan noise levels from the inlet and fan duct. Acoustically treated nacelles were fabricated for the quiet engine and quiet fan for testing. Performance of selected inlet and fan duct lining configurations was experimentally evaluated in a flow duct. Results of the tests show that the linings perform as designed.

Tucker, R. H.↗

Design and fabrication of an augmentor wing model for acoustic tests

The design and fabrication of a full-scale section of an augmentor wing to be used for acoustic testing at the Lewis Research Center are discussed. This hardware will be used primarily to investigate scaling effects of acoustic data obtained during the Boeing-run model tests. Typical model test data is shown in the report, together with predictions on both performance and acoustics that can be expected from the full-scale section to be built. Areas covered include: the aerodynamic and acoustic criteria of the flap system and nozzles, detailed discussion of the hardware, test system operation procedure, and stress analysis of the entire test system.

Jackson, J.↗

Acoustic sounding in the planetary boundary layer

Three case studies are presented involving data from an acoustic radar. The first two cases examine data collected during the passage of a mesoscale cold-air intrusion, probably thunderstorm outflow, and a synoptic-scale cold front. In these studies the radar data are compared to conventional meteorological data obtained from the WKY tower facility for the purpose of radar data interpretation. It is shown that the acoustic radar echoes reveal the boundary between warm and cold air and other areas of turbulent mixing, regions of strong vertical temperature gradients, and areas of weak or no wind shear. The third case study examines the relationship between the nocturnal radiation inversion and the low-level wind maximum or jet in the light of conclusions presented by Blackadar (1957). The low-level jet is seen forming well above the top of the inversion. Sudden rapid growth of the inversion occurs which brings the top of the inversion to a height equal that of the jet. Coincident with the rapid growth of the inversion is a sudden decrease in the intensity of the acoustic radar echoes in the inversion layer. It is suggested that the decrease in echo intensity reveals a decrease in turbulent mixing in the inversion layer as predicted by Blackadar. It is concluded that the acoustic radar can be a valuable tool for study in the lower atmosphere.

Kelly, E. H.↗

Relation between near field and far field acoustic measurements

Several approaches to the problem of determining the far field directivity of an acoustic source located in a reverberant environment, such as a wind tunnel, are investigated analytically and experimentally. The decrease of sound pressure level with distance is illustrated; and the spatial extent of the hydrodynamic and geometric near fields, the far field, and the reverberant field are described. A previously-prosposed analytical technique for predicting the far field directivity of the acoustic source on the basis of near field data is investigated. Experiments are conducted with small acoustic sources and an analysis is performed to determine the variation with distance from the source of the directionality of the sound field. A novel experiment is conducted in which the sound pressure measured at various distances from an acoustic driver located in the NASA Ames 40 x 80 ft wind tunnel is crosscorrelated with the driver excitation voltage.

Bies, D. A.↗

Some Problems of modern acoustics

The multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary character of acoustics is considered and its scientific, technological, economical and social implications, as well as the role of acoustics in creating new machines and equipment and improving the quality of products are outlined. Research beyond audible frequencies, as well as to extremely high acoustic intensities, which requires the development of a nonlinear acoustics is elaborated.

Stan, A.↗

Considerations on the acoustic energy radiated by toothed gears

A mechano-acoustic model is reported for calculating acoustic energy radiated by a working gear. According to this model, a gear is an acoustic coublet formed of the two wheels. The wheel teeth generate cylindrical acoustic waves while the front surfaces of the teeth behave like vibrating pistons. Theoretical results are checked experimentally and good agreement is obtained with open gears. The experiments show that the air noise effect is negligible as compared with the structural noise transmitted to the gear box.

Popinceanu, N. G.↗

Acoustic results of supersonic tip speed fan blade modification

A supersonic tip speed single stage fan was modified with the intent of reducing multiple pure tone (MPT) or buzz saw noise. There were three modifications to the blades from the original design. The modifications to the blade resulted in an increase in cascade throat area causing the shock to start at a lower corrected fan speed. The acoustic results without acoustically absorbing liners showed substantial reduction in multiple pure tone levels. However, an increase in the blade passing frequency noise at takeoff fan speed accompanied the MPT reduction. The net result however, was a reduction in the maximum 1000-foot (304.8 m) altitude level flyover PNL. For the case with acoustic treatment in the inlet outer wall, the takeoff noise increased relative to an acoustically treated baseline. This was largely due to the increased blade passing frequency noise which was not effectively reduced by the liner.

Jutras, R. R.↗

Small scale model static acoustic investigation of hybrid high lift systems combining upper surface blowing with the internally blown flap

A static acoustic and propulsion test of a small radius Jacobs-Hurkamp and a large radius Flex Flap combined with four upper surface blowing (USB) nozzles was performed. Nozzle force and flow data, flap trailing edge total pressure survey data, and acoustic data were obtained. Jacobs-Hurkamp flap surface pressure data, flow visualization photographs, and spoiler acoustic data from the limited mid-year tests are reported. A pressure ratio range of 1.2 to 1.5 was investigated for the USB nozzles and for the auxiliary blowing slots. The acoustic data were scaled to a four-engine STOL airplane of roughly 110,000 kilograms or 50,000 pounds gross weight, corresponding to a model scale of approximately 0.2 for the nozzles without deflector. The model nozzle scale is actually reduced to about .17 with deflector although all results in this report assume 0.2 scale factor. Trailing edge pressure surveys indicated that poor flow attachment was obtained even at large flow impingement angles unless a nozzle deflector plate was used. Good attachment was obtained with the aspect ratio four nozzle with deflector, confirming the small scale wind tunnel tests.

Cole, T. W.↗

Effect of the acoustic boundary layer on the wave propagation in ducts

An analysis is presented for the wave propagation in two-dimensional and circular lined ducts taking into account the effects of viscosity in both the mean and the acoustic problems. The method of composite expansions is used to express each acoustic flow quantity as the sum of an inviscid part and a boundary layer part insignificant outside a thin layer next to the wall. The problem is reduced to solving a second-order ordinary differential equation for the pressure perturbation as in the inviscid acoustic case but with a modified specific wall admittance. An analytic expression is presented for the variation of the modified admittance with the wall and flow parameters, such as the acoustic boundary layer thickness, the mean velocity and temperature gradients at the wall, the frequency of oscillation, and the wavelength.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗