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At least 55 records · Page 3

Active control of wake/blade-row interaction noise through the use of blade surface actuators

A combined analytical/computational approach for controlling of the noise generated by wake/blade-row interaction through the use of anti-sound actuators on the blade surfaces is described. A representative two-dimensional section of a fan stage, composed of an upstream fan rotor and a downstream fan exit guide vane (FEGV), is examined. An existing model for the wakes generated by the rotor is analyzed to provide realistic magnitudes for the vortical excitations imposed at the inlet to the FEGV. The acoustic response of the FEGV is determined at multiples of the blade passing frequency (BPF) by using the linearized unsteady flow analysis, LINFLO. Acoustic field contours are presented at each multiple of BPF illustrating the generated acoustic response disturbances. Anti-sound is then provided by placing oscillating control surfaces, whose lengths and locations are specified arbitrarily, on the blades. An analysis is then conducted to determine the complex amplitudes required for the control surface motions to best reduce the noise. It is demonstrated that if the number of acoustic response modes to be controlled is equal to the number of available independent control surfaces, complete noise cancellation can be achieved. A weighted least squares minimization procedure for the control equations is given for cases in which the number of acoustic modes exceeds the number of available control surfaces. The effectiveness of the control is measured by the magnitude of a propagating acoustic response vector, which is related to the circumferentially averaged sound pressure level (SPL), and is minimized by a standard least-squares minimization procedure.

Kousen, Kenneth A.↗

Aeroacoustic Analysis of Turbofan Noise Generation

This report provides an updated version of analytical documentation for the V072 Rotor Wake/Stator Interaction Code. It presents the theoretical derivation of the equations used in the code and, where necessary, it documents the enhancements and changes made to the original code since its first release. V072 is a package of FORTRAN computer programs which calculate the in-duct acoustic modes excited by a fan/stator stage operating in a subsonic mean flow. Sound is generated by the stator vanes interacting with the mean wakes of the rotor blades. In this updated version, only the tonal noise produced at the blade passing frequency and its harmonics, is described. The broadband noise component analysis, which was part of the original report, is not included here. The code provides outputs of modal pressure and power amplitudes generated by the rotor-wake/stator interaction. The rotor/stator stage is modeled as an ensemble of blades and vanes of zero camber and thickness enclosed within an infinite hard-walled annular duct. The amplitude of each propagating mode is computed and summed to obtain the harmonics of sound power flux within the duct for both upstream and downstream propagating modes.

Meyer, Harold D.↗

Fan Noise Predictions of the NASA Source Diagnostic Test using Unsteady Simulations with LAVA Part II - Tonal and Broadband Noise Assessment

The NASA Source Diagnostic Test (SDT) campaign experimental data is used for validation of a sliding mesh technique recently implemented within the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics computational framework for time-accurate simulation of rotating fans. The far-field acoustics are analyzed in this work, building upon the aerodynamic validation studies previously published in Part I. Two modeling approaches are explored: the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (uRANS) with the negative Spalart-Allmaras (SA-neg) turbulence model closure, and a hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes/large-eddy simulation (RANS/LES) paradigm employing a zonal detached-eddy simulation (ZDES) closure with enhanced shielding protection. Two convective flux scheme approaches with different dissipation properties are also explored with ZDES. The Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) permeable surface approach is used for propagation of the near-field acoustics to the far-field microphone locations. This work analyzes the low-speed (approach) condition, characterized by a fan rotation speed of 7808 rotations-per-minute (RPM). Three different grid levels ranging between 200 million and 1.1 billion grid points are considered. Results show good prediction of the broadband noise levels at sideline angles ranging between 70° and 110°. The forward arc observers show an under-prediction of the overall sound pressure levels (OASPL) even at the fine grid level. A breakdown of the inlet and exhaust contributions reveals a steep drop-off in the broadband noise levels past a blade-passing frequency (BPF) of 1.5, potentially caused by a lack of resolved small-scale turbulent fluctuations in the interstage region. Past 110° the OASPL are over-predicted by up to 10 dB due to an over-prediction of the low-frequency broadband noise levels in the aft arc. The detuning of BPF2 caused by small deviations in the blade stagger angle around the wheel is captured, and a corresponding decrease in the sound power level for this cut-on tone is observed.

AATT↗

On the spectral behaviour of the turbulence-driven power fluctuations of horizontal-axis turbines

In this article we consider the spectral behaviour of turbulence-driven power fluctuations for a single horizontal-axis turbine. To this end, a small-scale instrumented axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine model ( diameter=0.724 m ) is deployed in the long water flume situated in the laboratory facilities of IFREMER in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, and synchronous measurements of the upstream velocity and the rotor are collected for different tip-speed ratios. The study confirms previous findings suggesting that the power spectra follow the velocity spectra behaviour in the large scales region and a steeper power law slope behaviour ( -11/3 ) over the inertial frequency sub-range. However, we show that both the amplitude of the power spectra and low-pass filtering effect over the inertial sub-range also depend on the rotor aero/hydrodynamics (e.g. dC L /dα) and the approaching flow deceleration and not solely on the rotational effects. In addition, we present a novel semi-analytical model to predict the dominant blade-passing frequency harmonics in the high-frequency regime using the rotationally sampled spectra technique. For all calculations, the distortion of incoming turbulence is taken into account.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Sound radiation from a high speed axial flow fan due to the inlet turbulence quadrupole interaction

A formula is obtained for the total acoustic power spectra radiated out the front of the fan as a function of frequency. The formula involves the design parameters of the fan as well as the statistical properties of the incident turbulence. Numerical results are calculated for values of the parameters in the range of interest for quiet fans tested at the Lewis Research Center. As in the dipole analysis, when the turbulence correlation lengths become equal to the interblade spacing, the predicted spectra exhibit peaks around the blade passing frequency and its harmonics. There has recently been considerable conjecture about whether the stretching of turbulent eddies as they enter a stationary fan could result in the inlet turbulence being the dominant source of pure tones from nontranslating fans. The results of the current analysis show that, unless the turbulent eddies become quite elongated, this noise source contributes predominantly to the broadband spectrum.

Goldstein, M. E.↗

Experimental and theoretical studies of subsonic fan noise

The noise generated by inlet turbulence impinging on a subsonic axial flow fan was studied as a function of tip speed, flow coefficient, and intensity and scale of turbulence was carried out. Both turbulence and far field acoustic measurements were made. The new elements introduced in the theoretical analysis were accounting for blade loading dependent noise mechanisms and consideration of anisotropic turbulence impinging on the rotor because of inlet flow contraction effects. Experimentally an unexplained increase of noise at about 1/2 and 1 1/2 times blade passsing frequency was observed at low flow coefficients even though there was no evidence of compressor surge. In the final version the theory does a fair job of predicting variations of noise with blade loading and tip speed. Alteration of inlet turbulence length scales produced some but not very pronounced changes in the far field PWL spectra. Some degree of eddy contraction and resulting anisotropy were essential to explain the concentration of energy around blade passing frequencies.

Mani, R.↗

Manipulation of upstream rotor leading edge vortex and its effects on counter rotating propeller noise

The leading edge vortex of a counter rotating propeller (CRP) model was altered by using shrouds and by turning the upstream rotors to a forward sweep configuration. Performance, flow, and acoustic data were used to determine the effect of vortex impingement on the noise signature of the CRP system. Forward sweep was found to eliminate the leading edge vortex of the upstream blades. Removal of the vortex had little effect on the tone noise at the forward and rear blade passing frequencies (BPF's) but significantly altered both the sound pressure level and directivity of the interaction tone which occurs at the sum of the two BPF's. A separate manipulation of the leading edge vortex performed by installing shrouds of various inlet length on the CRP verified that diverting the vortex path increases the noise level of the interaction tone. An unexpected link has been established between the interaction tone and the leading edge vortex-blade interaction phenomenon.

Squires, Becky↗

Progress in the prediction of unsteady heat transfer on turbines blades

Progress toward developing a general method for predicting unsteady heat transfer on turbine blades subject to blade-passing frequencies and Reynolds numbers relevant to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) is discussed. The method employs an invisid/viscous interactive procedure which has been tested extensively for steady subsonic and transonic external airfoil problems. One such example is shown. The agreement with experimental data and with Navier-Stokes calculations yields confidence in the method. The technique is extended to account for wake generated unsteadiness. The flow reversals around the stagnation point caused by the nonuniform onset velocity are accounted for by using the Characteristic Box scheme developed by Cebeci and Stewartson. The coupling between the inviscid and viscous methods is achieved by using a special procedure, which, with a novel inverse finite-difference boundary-layer method, allows the calculations to be performed for a wide range of flow conditions, including separation. Preliminary results are presented for the stagnation region of turbine blades for both laminar and turbulent flows. A laminar model problem corresponding to a flow on a circular cylinder which experiences the periodic passing of wakes from turbine blades is presented to demonstrate the ability of the method to calculate flow reversals around the stagnation region.

Cebeci, T.↗

The radiation of sound from a propeller at angle of attack

The mechanism by which the noise generated at the blade passing frequency by a propeller is altered when the propeller axis is at an angle of attack to the freestream is examined. The measured noise field is distinctly non axially symmetric under such conditions with far field sound pressure levels both diminished and increased relative to the axially symmetric values produced with the propeller at zero angle of attack. Attempts have been made to explain this non axially symmetric sound field based on the unsteady (once per rev) loading experienced by the propeller blades when the propeller axis is at non zero angle of attack. A calculation based on this notion appears to greatly underestimate the measured azimuthal asymmetry of noise for high tip speed, highly loaded propellers. A new mechanism is proposed; namely, that at angle of attack, there is a non axially symmetric modulation of the radiative efficiency of the steady loading and thickness noise which is the primary cause of the non axially symmetric sound field at angle of attack for high tip speed, heavily loaded propellers with a large number of blades. A calculation of this effect to first order in the crossflow Mach number (component of freestream Mach number normal to the propeller axis) is carried out and shows much better agreement with measured noise data on the angle of attack effect.

Mani, Ramani↗

The radiation of sound from a propeller at angle of attack

The mechanism by which the noise generated at the blade passing frequency by a propeller is altered when the propeller axis is at an angle of attack to the freestream is examined. The measured noise field is distinctly non axially symmetric under such conditions with far field sound pressure levels both diminished and increased relative to the axially symmetric values produced with the propeller at zero angle of attack. Attempts have been made to explain this non axially symmetric sound field based on the unsteady (once per rev) loading experienced by the propeller blades when the propeller axis is at non zero angle of attack. A calculation based on this notion appears to greatly underestimate the measured azimuthal asymmetry of noise for high tip speed, highly loaded propellers. A new mechanism is proposed; namely, that at angle of attack, there is a non axially symmetric modulation of the radiative efficiency of the steady loading and thickness noise which is the primary cause of the non axially symmetric sound field at angle of attack for high tip speed, heavily loaded propellers with a large number of blades. A calculation of this effect to first order in the crossflow Mach number (component of freestream Mach number normal to the propeller axis) is carried out and shows much better agreement with measured noise data on the angle of attack effect.

Mani, R.↗

Coupled 2-dimensional cascade theory for noise and unsteady aerodynamics of blade row interaction in turbofans. Volume 1: Theory development and parametric studies

Typical analytical models for interaction between rotor and stator in a turbofan analyze the effect of wakes from the rotor impinging on the stator, producing unsteady loading, and thereby generating noise. Reflection/transmission characteristics of the rotor are sometimes added in a separate calculation. In those models, there is a one-to-one relationship between wake harmonics and noise harmonics; that is, the BPF (blade passing frequency) wake harmonic causes only the BPF noise harmonic, etc. This report presents a more complete model in which flow tangency boundary conditions are satisfied on two cascades in relative motion for several harmonics simultaneously. By an extension of S.N. Smith's code for two dimensional flat plate cascades, the noise generation/frequency scattering/blade row reflection problem is solved in a single matrix inversion. It is found that the BPF harmonic excitation of the stator scatters considerable energy in the higher BPF harmonics due to relative motion between the blade rows. Furthermore, when swirl between the rotor and stator is modeled, a 'mode trapping' effect occurs which explains observations on fans operating at rotational speeds below BFP cuton: the BPF mode amplifies between blade rows by multiple reflections but cannot escape to the inlet and exit ducts. However, energy scattered into higher harmonics does propagate and dominates the spectrum at two and three times BPF. This report presents the complete derivation of the theory, comparison with a previous (more limited) coupled rotor/stator interaction theory due to Kaji and Okazaki, exploration of the mode trapping phenomenon, and parametric studies showing the effects of vane/blade ratio and rotor/stator interaction. For generality, the analysis applies to stages where the rotor is either upstream or downstream of the stator and to counter rotation stages. The theory has been coded in a FORTRAN program called CUP2D, documented in Volume 2 of this report. It is concluded that the new features of this analysis - unsteady coupling, frequency scattering, and flow turning between rotor and stator - have a profound effect on noise generation caused by rotor/stator interaction. Treating rotors and stators as isolated cascades is not adequate for noise analysis and prediction.

Hanson, Donald B.↗

Noise of the 10-bladed, 40 deg swept SR-6 propeller in a wind tunnel

The noise generated by supersonic helical-tip-speed propellers is a likely cabin environment problem for future airplanes powered by these propellers. Three propeller models with different tip sweeps. SR-1M, SR-2, and SR-3, designed for 244 m/sec (800 ft/sec) tip speed at a flight Mach number of 0.8 were previously tested in the NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel. In order to investigated another design point condition, the SR-6 propeller was designed for 213 m-sec (700 ft/sec) tip speed at a flight Mach number of 0.8. The noise data from this propeller are reported herein. Curves of blade passing frequency noise versus tip Mach number (at constant advance ratio) showed that the SR-6 propeller behaved similarly to the SR-1M propeller. The noise of the SR-6 propeller at its design condition, helical tip Mach number of 1.07, is approximately 3 dB quieter than the SR-2 propeller at its higher design helical tip Mach number of 1.15, but about 2.5 dB noisier than SR-3 at its design condition. The helical tip Mach number shift of the steep noise rise followed the same progression as the blade sweep angle for all of the propellers. When operated at the SR-3 design point, the SR-6 propeller was approximately 1.5 dB quieter than SR-2 and 4 dB noisier than SR-3.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

Mechanisms of Rotating Instability in Axial Compressors Investigated

Rotating instability is a phenomenon that occurs in the tip flow region of axial compressor stages during stable operation. It can be observed in highly staggered rotors with significant tip clearance and is strongest at high-load operating points where the characteristic levels off. In this condition, the single-stage fan under investigation radiates an audible, whistling tone, and wall pressure spectra in the vicinity of the rotor disk exhibit nonrotational components. The graph shows the spectrum of static pressure at a point on the endwall near the leading edge. A hump appears at roughly half of the blade passing frequency (BPF) and is characteristic of rotating instability. A computational model was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center to investigate the mechanism behind this phenomenon. A three-dimensional steady Navier-Stokes code that has been successfully tested for a wide range of turbomachinery flows was modified to execute a time-accurate simulation of the full annulus of the compressor. At the inlet of the computational domain, the total pressure, total temperature, and two velocity components are specified. Since no unsteady measurements of static pressure or other flow variables were available downstream of the rotor, circumferentially averaged static pressure was specified on the shroud at the outlet of the computational domain. A three-dimensional view of the vortex from the numerical model is shown. Particle traces released near the leading edge tip have rolled up to illustrate the tip clearance vortex. Flow near the trailing edge is pushed forward by the axially reversed flow. It then interacts with the tip clearance flow and the incoming flow and results in the rotating instability vortex, the core of which is illustrated by total pressure shading on planes located successively downstream. The rotating instability vortex is formed periodically midway between the blades and moves toward the pressure side of the passage. The unsteady behavior of this vortex structure is the main mechanism of the rotating instability is shown. The numerical model can be used to detect any possible occurrence of rotating instability when the tip clearance increases during engine service.

Hah, Chunill↗

Aerodynamic and Acoustic Performance of Two Choked-Flow Inlets Under Static Conditions

Tests were conducted to determine the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of two choking flow inlets under static conditions. One inlet choked the flow in the cowl throat by an axial translation of the inlet centerbody. The other inlet employed a translating grid of airfoils to choke the flow. Both inlets were sized to fit a 13.97 cm diameter fan with a design weight flow of 2.49 kg/sec. The inlets were operated in both the choked and unchoked modes over a range of weight flows. Measurements were made of inlet pressure recovery, flow distortion, surface static pressure distribution, and fan noise suppression. Choking of the translating centerbody inlet reduced blade passing frequency noise by 29 db while yielding a total pressure recovery of 0.985. Noise reductions were also measured at 1/3-octave band center frequencies of 2500, 5000, and 20,000 cycles. The translating grid inlet gave a total pressure recovery of 0.968 when operating close to the choking weight flow. However, an intermittent high intensity noise source was encountered with this inlet that precluded an accurate measurement of inlet noise suppression.

Miller, B. A.↗

High loading, low speed fan study, 5

A low speed, low noise, single stage fan was designed and tested. Design pressure ratio was 1.5 at a rotor tip speed of 1000 ft/sec. No inlet guide vane was used, the rotor stator was spaced and the number of rotor and stator airfoils was selected for low noise. Tests were conducted with uniform and distorted inlet flows. Stall margin of the initial design was too low for practical application. Airfoil slots and boundary layer and endwall devices did not improve stall margin sufficiently. A redesigned stator with reduced loadings increased stall margin, giving a fan efficiency of 0.883, 15% stall margin, and a 1.474 pressure radio at a specific flow of 41.7 lb/sec sq ft. Casing treatment over rotor tips improved stall margin with distorted inlet flow; vortex generators did not. Blade passing frequency noise increased with rotor relative Mach number. No supersonic fan noise was measured below 105% of design speed. Slotting airfoils, casing treatments, and a reduction of the ratio (number-stators/number-rotors) from (2n + 16) to (2n + 2) had no significant effects on noise.

Keenan, M. J.↗

Investigation of coaxial jet noise and inlet choking using an F-111A airplane

Measurements of engine noise generated by an F-111A airplane positioned on a thrustmeasuring platform were made at angles of 0 deg to 160 deg from the aircraft heading. Sound power levels, power spectra, and directivity patterns are presented for jet exit velocities between 260 feet per second and 2400 feet per second. The test results indicate that the total acoustic power was proportional to the eighth power of the core jet velocity for core exhaust velocities greater than 300 meters per second (985 feet per second) and that little or no mixing of the core and fan streams occurred. The maximum sideline noise was most accurately predicted by using the average jet velocity for velocities above 300 meters per second (985 feet per second). The acoustic power spectrum was essentially the same for the single jet flow of afterburner operation and the coaxial flow of the nonafterburning condition. By varying the inlet geometry and cowl position, reductions in the sound pressure level of the blade passing frequency on the order of 15 decibels to 25 decibels were observed for inlet Mach numbers of 0.8 to 0.9.

Putnam, T. W.↗

Rotor noise due to inflow turbulence.

The interaction of turbulent velocity fluctuations of the inflow with rotor blades and the resulting acoustic radiation is examined in terms of: dipole sources due to blade loading, monopole sources due to thickness of the rotating blades, and quadrupole sources due to velocity fluctuations in the flow region. Depending upon the length and time scales of the turbulence, sufficient number of blades may interact with a coherent eddy to radiate noise with discrete peaks at blade passing frequency and its harmonics. Theoretical estimates of acoustic radiation to on-axis points from a typical subsonic rotor are presented, and it is noted that the discrete tone noise is primarily from dipole radiation. Discrete tone noise levels observed in narrow band analysis of test data show reasonable agreement with analytical predictions.

Rao, G. V. R.↗

Low-speed wind-tunnel investigation of the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a translating grid choked flow inlet

The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a translating grid choked-flow inlet was determined in a low-speed wind tunnel at free-stream velocities of 24, 32, and 45 m/sec and incidence angles of 0, 10, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 deg. The inlet was sized to fit a 13.97- centimeter-diameter fan with a design weight flow of 2.49 kg/sec. Measurements were made to determine inlet total pressure recovery, flow distortion, and sound pressure level for both choked and unchoked geometries over a range of inlet weight flows. For the unchoked geometry, inlet total pressure recovery ranged from 0.983 to 0.989 at incidence angles less than 40 deg. At 40 deg incidence angle, inlet cowl separation was encountered which resulted in lower values of pressure recovery and higher levels of fan broadband noise. For the choked geometry, increasing total pressure losses occurred with increasing inlet weight flow that prevented the inlet from reaching full choked conditions with the particular fan used. These losses were attributed to the high Mach number drag rise characteristics of airfoil grid. At maximum attainable inlet weight flow, the total pressure recovery at static conditions was 0.935. The fan blade passing frequency and other fan generated pure tones were eliminated from the noise spectrum, but the broadband level was increased.

Abbott, J. M.↗