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At least 73 records · Page 4

Computation of a Single Airfoil Gust Response and Gust-Cascade Interaction Using the CE/SE Method

The problems 1 and 2 in Category 3 are solved using the space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method. Problem 1 concerns the acoustic field generated by the interaction of a harmonic vertical gust with a single isolated airfoil. Problem 2 models rotor-stator interaction in a 2D cascade. Both problems involve complex geometries and flow physics including vortex shielding and acoustic radiation. An unstructured triangular mesh is used to solve both problems. For problem 2, the Giles approach is incorporated with the CE/SE method to handle non-equal pitches of the rotor and stator. Numerical solution of both near and far fields of problem 1 are presented and compared with a frequency-domain solver GUST3D and a time-domain high-order Discontinuous Spectra Element Method (DSEM) solutions. For problem 2, numerical solutions on the blade surface, inlet and outlet planes are presented.

Wang, Xiao-Yen↗

Aeroacoustic Optimization of Installed Propeller Configurations with Scattering and Shielding Effects

An optimization capability is developed for acoustic scattering and shielding of installed propellers and rotors, based on a spacetime Galerkin time domain boundary element method (TDBEM). The time domain approach is particularly suitable for efficient simulation of transient, rotating, and broadband noise sources such as propellers. The use of algorithmic differentiation allows efficient evaluation of design sensitivities required for gradient-based design optimization with a large number of design variables. We present a validation exercise for the coherent broadband scattering capability against an analytical solution, showing excellent agreement. We then demonstrate the optimization tool on a series of inverse design cases with broadband and rotating sources, as well as an optimization problem for a propeller-wing configuration. The results show good performance for optimization problems with the characteristics of realistic installed propeller configurations.

Maks J Groom↗

Aeroacoustic Optimization of Installed Propeller Configurations with Scattering and Shielding Effects

An optimization capability is developed for acoustic scattering and shielding of installed propellers and rotors, based on a spacetime Galerkin time domain boundary element method (TDBEM). The time domain approach is particularly suitable for efficient simulation of transient, rotating, and broadband noise sources such as propellers. The use of algorithmic differentiation allows efficient evaluation of design sensitivities required for gradient-based design optimization with a large number of design variables. We present a validation exercise for the coherent broadband scattering capability against an analytical solution, showing excellent agreement. We then demonstrate the optimization tool on a series of inverse design cases with broadband and rotating sources, as well as an optimization problem for a propeller-wing configuration. The results show good performance for optimization problems with the characteristics of realistic installed propeller configurations.

Maks J Groom↗

Analytical evaluation of jet noise source location technique utilizing an acoustically hard baffle with aperture

An analytical investigation was conducted on the experimental technique that uses shielding by an acoustically hard baffle to determine the location of noise sources in a jet. The jet exhausts through a circular hole in the baffle and the radiated acoustic power is considered to be generated by a distributed source along the jet axis. It is found that the effect of the baffle on the radiated power can be neglected only when the size of the source is on the order of a wavelength of the emitted sound or larger. Since noise sources in a jet are compact, the experimental technique is insufficient to identify these sources.

Norum, T. D.↗

On the role of the radiation directivity in noise reduction for STOL aircraft.

The radiation characteristics of distributed randomly fluctuating acoustic sources when shielded by finite surfaces are discussed briefly. A number of model tests using loudspeakers as artificial noise sources with a given broadband power density spectrum are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of reducing the radiated noise intensity in certain directions due to shielding. In the lateral direction of the source array noise reductions of 12 dB are observed with relatively small shields. The same shields reduce the backward radiation by approximately 20 dB. With the results obtained in these acoustic model tests the potentials of jet noise reduction of jet flap propulsion systems applicable in future STOL aircraft are discussed. The jet flap configuration as a complex aerodynamic noise source is described briefly.

Gruschka, H. D.↗

Development of a piezopolymer pressure sensor for a portable fetal heart rate monitor

A piezopolymer pressure sensor has been developed for service in a portable fetal heart rate monitor, which will permit an expectant mother to perform the fetal nonstress test, a standard predelivery test, in her home. Several sensors are mounted in an array on a belt worn by the mother. The sensor design conforms to the distinctive features of the fetal heart tone, namely, the acoustic signature, frequency spectrum, signal amplitude, and localization. The components of a sensor serve to fulfill five functions: signal detection, acceleration cancellation, acoustical isolation, electrical shielding, and electrical isolation of the mother. A theoretical analysis of the sensor response yields a numerical value for the sensor sensitivity, which is compared to experiment in an in vitro sensor calibration. Finally, an in vivo test on patients within the last six weeks of term reveals that nonstress test recordings from the acoustic monitor compare well with those obtained from conventional ultrasound.

Heart Rate, Fetal/physiology↗

Polyolefin-Based Aerogels

An organic polybutadiene (PB) rubberbased aerogel insulation material was developed that will provide superior thermal insulation and inherent radiation protection, exhibiting the flexibility, resiliency, toughness, and durability typical of the parent polymer, yet with the low density and superior insulation properties associated with the aerogels. The rubbery behaviors of the PB rubber-based aerogels are able to overcome the weak and brittle nature of conventional inorganic and organic aerogel insulation materials. Additionally, with higher content of hydrogen in their structure, the PB rubber aerogels will also provide inherently better radiation protection than those of inorganic and carbon aerogels. Since PB rubber aerogels also exhibit good hydrophobicity due to their hydrocarbon molecular structure, they will provide better performance reliability and durability as well as simpler, more economic, and environmentally friendly production over the conventional silica or other inorganic-based aerogels, which require chemical treatment to make them hydrophobic. Inorganic aerogels such as silica aerogels demonstrate many unusual and useful properties. There are several strategies to overcoming the drawbacks associated with the weakness and brittleness of silica aerogels. Development of the flexible fiber-reinforced silica aerogel composite blanket has proven one promising approach, providing a conveniently fielded form factor that is relatively robust toward handling in industrial environments compared to silica aerogel monoliths. However, the flexible silica aerogel composites still have a brittle, dusty character that may be undesirable, or even intolerable, in certain applications. Although the cross-linked organic aerogels such as resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF), polyisocyanurate, and cellulose aerogels show very high impact strength, they are also very brittle with little elongation (i.e., less rubbery). Also, silica and carbon aerogels are less efficient radiation shielding materials due to their lower content of hydrogen element. The present invention relates to maleinized polybutadiene (or polybutadiene adducted with maleic anhydride)- based aerogel monoliths and composites, and the methods for preparation. Hereafter, they are collectively referred to as polybutadiene aerogels. Specifically, the polybutadiene aerogels of the present invention are prepared by mixing a maleinized polybutadiene resin, a hardener containing a maleic anhydride reactive group, and a catalyst in a suitable solvent, and maintaining the mixture in a quiescent state for a sufficient period of time to form a polymeric gel. After aging at elevated temperatures for a period of time to provide uniformly stronger wet gels, the micro porous maleinized polybutadiene- based aerogel is then obtained by removing interstitial solvent by supercritical drying. The mesoporous maleinized polybutadiene-based aerogels contain an open-pore structure, which provides inherently hydrophobic, flexible, nearly unbreakable, less dusty aerogels with excellent thermal and physical properties. The materials can be used as thermal and acoustic insulation, radiation shielding, and vibration-damping materials. The organic PB-based rubber aerogels are very flexible, no-dust, and hydrophobic organics that demonstrated the following ranges of typical properties: densities of 0.08 to 0.255 grams per cubic centimeters, shrinkage factor (raerogel/rtarget) = 1.2 to 2.84, and thermal conductivity values of 20.0 to 35.0 mW/m-K.

Lee, Je Kyun↗

Hardware

The full complement of EDOMP investigations called for a broad spectrum of flight hardware ranging from commercial items, modified for spaceflight, to custom designed hardware made to meet the unique requirements of testing in the space environment. In addition, baseline data collection before and after spaceflight required numerous items of ground-based hardware. Two basic categories of ground-based hardware were used in EDOMP testing before and after flight: (1) hardware used for medical baseline testing and analysis, and (2) flight-like hardware used both for astronaut training and medical testing. To ensure post-landing data collection, hardware was required at both the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) landing sites. Items that were very large or sensitive to the rigors of shipping were housed permanently at the landing site test facilities. Therefore, multiple sets of hardware were required to adequately support the prime and backup landing sites plus the Johnson Space Center (JSC) laboratories. Development of flight hardware was a major element of the EDOMP. The challenges included obtaining or developing equipment that met the following criteria: (1) compact (small size and light weight), (2) battery-operated or requiring minimal spacecraft power, (3) sturdy enough to survive the rigors of spaceflight, (4) quiet enough to pass acoustics limitations, (5) shielded and filtered adequately to assure electromagnetic compatibility with spacecraft systems, (6) user-friendly in a microgravity environment, and (7) accurate and efficient operation to meet medical investigative requirements.

Source record↗

Static Aerodynamic Performance Investigation of a Fluid Shield Nozzle

In pursuit of an acoustically acceptable, high performance exhaust system capable of meeting Federal Aviation Regulation 36 Stage 3 noise goals for the High Speed Civil Transport application, General Electric Aircraft Engines conducted a design study to incorporate a fluid shield into a 36-chute suppressor exhaust-nozzle system. After a full scale preliminary mechanical design of the resulting fluid shield exhaust system, scale model aerodynamic performance tests and acoustic tests were conducted to establish both aerodynamic performance and acoustic characteristics. Data are presented as thrust coefficients, discharge coefficients, chute-base pressure drags, and plug static pressure distributions.

Balan, C.↗

Air-coupled acoustic thermography for in-situ evaluation

Acoustic thermography uses a housing configured for thermal, acoustic and infrared radiation shielding. For in-situ applications, the housing has an open side adapted to be sealingly coupled to a surface region of a structure such that an enclosed chamber filled with air is defined. One or more acoustic sources are positioned to direct acoustic waves through the air in the enclosed chamber and towards the surface region. To activate and control each acoustic source, a pulsed signal is applied thereto. An infrared imager focused on the surface region detects a thermal image of the surface region. A data capture device records the thermal image in synchronicity with each pulse of the pulsed signal such that a time series of thermal images is generated. For enhanced sensitivity and/or repeatability, sound and/or vibrations at the surface region can be used in feedback control of the pulsed signal applied to the acoustic sources.

Zalameda, Joseph N.↗

Noise reduction in a Mach 5 wind tunnel with a rectangular rod-wall sound shield

A rod wall sound shield was tested over a range of Reynolds numbers of 0.5 x 10 to the 7th power to 8.0 x 10 to the 7th power per meter. The model consisted of a rectangular array of longitudinal rods with boundary-layer suction through gaps between the rods. Suitable measurement techniques were used to determine properties of the flow and acoustic disturbance in the shield and transition in the rod boundary layers. Measurements indicated that for a Reynolds number of 1.5 x 10 to the 9th power the noise in the shielded region was significantly reduced, but only when the flow is mostly laminar on the rods. Actual nozzle input noise measured on the nozzle centerline before reflection at the shield walls was attenuated only slightly even when the rod boundary layer were laminar. At a lower Reynolds number, nozzle input noise at noise levels in the shield were still too high for application to a quiet tunnel. At Reynolds numbers above 2.0 x 10 the the 7th power per meter, measured noise levels were generally higher than nozzle input levels, probably due to transition in the rod boundary layers. The small attenuation of nozzle input noise at intermediate Reynolds numbers for laminar rod layers at the acoustic origins is apparently due to high frequencies of noise.

Creel, T. R., Jr.↗

Wing shielding of high-velocity jet and shock-associated noise with cold and hot flow jets

Jet exhaust noise shielding data are presented for cold and hot flows (ambient to 1100 K) and pressure ratios from 1.7 to 2.75. A nominal 9.5-cm diameter conical nozzle was used with simple shielding surfaces that were varied in length from 28.8 to 114.3 cm. The nozzle was located 8.8 cm above the surfaces. The acoustic data with the various shielding lengths are compared to each other and to that for the nozzle alone. In general, short shielding surfaces that provided shielding for subsonic jets did not provide as much shielding for jets with shock noise; however, long shielding surfaces did shield shock noise effectively.

Von Glahn, U.↗

Oil Filled Flow Shield Performance Evaluation

When hydrophones are used to monitor underwater sound in areas with currents, like rivers or tidal channels, flow noise caused by turbulent flow past a hydrophone can mask low frequency acoustic signals of interest. Flow shields can reduce the impacts of flow noise on hydrophone data. A prior study conducted by PNNL compared three flow shield designs and determined that an oil-filled urethane shield performed better than other designs and was likely sufficiently robust for long-duration marine deployments. However, that study did not assess the high frequency performance of the oil-filled flow shield or conduct long-duration field testing. Further, the prototype flow shield was difficult to assemble. This report details the results of design refinement and testing to address these gaps. Design refinements resulted in a straightforward and repeatable assembly method. Field testing indicated that the flow shields reduce flow noise by over 20 dB below 50 Hz at flow speeds greater than 0.5 m/s and are proven to survive deployments more than 6 months long. Calibration of the same hydrophone with and without a flow shield installed indicated that the shields attenuate propagating sound by no more than 2 dB at frequencies below 30 kHz.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Design and Fabrication of a Tank-Applied Broad Area Cooling Shield Coupon

The small-scale broad area cooling (BAC) shield test panel represents a section of the cryogenic propellant storage and transfer ground test article, a flight-like cryogenic propellant storage tank. The test panel design includes an aluminum tank shell, primer, spray-on foam insulation, multilayer insulation (MLI), and BAC shield hardware. This assembly was sized to accurately represent the character of the MLI/BAC shield system, be quickly and inexpensively assembled, and be tested in the Marshall Space Flight Center Acoustic Test Facility. Investigating the BAC shield response to a worst-case launch dynamic load was the key purpose for developing the test article and performing the test. A preliminary method for structurally supporting the BAC shield using low-conductivity standoffs was designed, manufactured, and evaluated as part of the test. The BAC tube-standoff interface and unsupported BAC tube lengths were key parameters for evaluation. No noticeable damage to any system hardware element was observed after acoustic testing.

Wood, J. J.↗

On Noise Assessment for Blended Wing Body Aircraft

A system noise study is presented for the blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft configured with advanced technologies that are projected to be available in the 2025 timeframe of the NASA N+2 definition. This system noise assessment shows that the noise levels of the baseline configuration, measured by the cumulative Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL), have a large margin of 34 dB to the aircraft noise regulation of Stage 4. This confirms the acoustic benefits of the BWB shielding of engine noise, as well as other projected noise reduction technologies, but the noise margins are less than previously published assessments and are short of meeting the NASA N+2 noise goal. In establishing the relevance of the acoustic assessment framework, the design of the BWB configuration, the technical approach of the noise analysis, the databases and prediction tools used in the assessment are first described and discussed. The predicted noise levels and the component decomposition are then analyzed to identify the ranking order of importance of various noise components, revealing the prominence of airframe noise, which holds up the levels at all three noise certification locations and renders engine noise reduction technologies less effective. When projected airframe component noise reduction is added to the HWB configuration, it is shown that the cumulative noise margin to Stage 4 can reach 41.6 dB, nearly at the NASA goal. These results are compared with a previous NASA assessment with a different study framework. The approaches that yield projections of such low noise levels are discussed including aggressive assumptions on future technologies, assumptions on flight profile management, engine installation, and component noise reduction technologies. It is shown that reliable predictions of component noise also play an important role in the system noise assessment. The comparisons and discussions illustrate the importance of practical feasibilities and constraints in aircraft system noise studies, which include aerodynamic performance, propulsion efficiency, flight profile limitation and many other factors. For a future aircraft concept to achieve the NASA N+2 noise goal it will require a range of fully successful noise reduction technology developments.

Guo, Yueping↗

Open Rotor Aeroacoustic Installation Effects for Conventional and Unconventional Airframes

As extensive experimental campaign was performed to study the aeroacoustic installation effects of an open rotor with respect to both a conventional tube and wing type airframe and an unconventional hybrid wing body airframe. The open rotor rig had two counter rotating rows of blades each with eight blades of a design originally flight tested in the 1980s. The aeroacoustic installation effects measured in an aeroacoustic wind tunnel included those from flow effects due to inflow distortion or wake interaction and acoustic propagation effects such as shielding and reflection. The objective of the test campaign was to quantify the installation effects for a wide range of parameters and configurations derived from the two airframe types. For the conventional airframe, the open rotor was positioned in increments in front of and then over the main wing and then in positions representative of tail mounted aircraft with a conventional tail, a T-tail and a U-tail. The interaction of the wake of the open rotor as well as acoustic scattering results in an increase of about 10 dB when the rotor is positioned in front of the main wing. When positioned over the main wing a substantial amount of noise reduction is obtained and this is also observed for tail-mounted installations with a large U-tail. For the hybrid wing body airframe, the open rotor was positioned over the airframe along the centerline as well as off-center representing a twin engine location. A primary result was the documentation of the noise reduction from shielding as a function of the location of the open rotor upstream of the trailing edge of the hybrid wing body. The effects from vertical surfaces and elevon deflection were also measured. Acoustic lining was specially designed and inserted flush with the elevon and airframe surface, the result was an additional reduction in open rotor noise propagating to the far field microphones. Even with the older blade design used, the experiment provided quantification of the aeroacoustic installation effects for a wide range of open rotor and airframe configurations and can be used with data processing methods to evaluate the aeroacoustic installation effects for open rotors with modern blade designs.

Czech, Michael J.↗

Testing Installed Propulsion For Shielded Exhaust Configurations

Jet-surface interaction (JSI) can be a significant factor in the exhaust noise of installed propulsion. Tests to further understanding and prediction of the acoustic impacts of JSI have been described. While there were many objectives for the NASA JSI1044 test, the overall objective was to prepare for a 2016 test validating the design of a low-noise, low-boom supersonic commercial airliner. In this paper we explore design requirements for a partial aircraft model to be used in subscale acoustic testing, especially focusing on the amount of shielding surface that must be provided to simulate the acoustic environment between propulsion exhaust system and observer. We document the dual-stream jets, both nozzle and flow conditions, which were tested to extend JSI acoustic modeling from simple single-stream jets to realistic dual-stream exhaust nozzles. Examples of observations found as surface geometry and flow conditions were varied were provided. And we have presented initial measurements of the installation impacts of integrating the propulsion on the airframe for a supersonic airliner with realistic airframe geometries and nozzles.

engine airframe integration↗

DAISY Benchmark Performance Data

This repository contains the underlying data from benchmark experiments for Drifting Acoustic Instrumentation SYstems (DAISYs) in waves and currents described in "Performance of a Drifting Acoustic Instrumentation SYstem (DAISY) for Characterizing Radiated Noise from Marine Energy Converters" (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40722-024-00358-6). DAISYs consist of a surface expression connected to a hydrophone recording package by a tether. Both elements are instrumented to provide metadata (e.g., position, orientation, and depth). Information about how to build DAISYs is available at https://www.pmec.us/research-projects/daisy. The repository's primary content is three compressed archives (.zip format), each containing multiple MATLAB binary data files (.mat format). A table relating individual data files to figures in the paper, as well as the structure of each file, is included in the repository as a Word document (Data Description MHK-DR.docx). Most of the files contain time series information for a single DAISY deployment (file naming convention: [site]_DAISY_[Drift #].mat) consisting of processed hydrophone data and associated metadata. For a limited number of DAISY deployments, the hydrophone package was replaced with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (file naming convention: [site]_DAISY_[Drift #]_ADV.mat). Data were collected over several years at three locations: (1) Sequim Bay at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Marine & Coastal Research Laboratory (MCRL) in Sequim, WA, the energetic tidal channel in Admiralty Inlet, WA (Admiralty Inlet), and the U.S. Navy's Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in Kaneohe, HI. Brief descriptions of data files at each location follow. - MCRL - (1) Drift #4 and #16 contrast the performance of a DAISY and a reference hydrophone (icListen HF Reson), respectively, in the quiescent interior of Sequim Bay (September 2020). (2) Drift #152 and #153 are velocity measurements for a drifting acoustic Doppler velocimeter in in the tidally-energetic entrance channel inside a flow shield and exposed to the flow, respectively (January 2018). (3) Two non-standard files are also included: DAISY_data.mat corresponds to a subset of a DAISY drift over an Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP) and AMP_data.mat corresponds to approximately co-temporal data for a stationary hydrophone on the AMP (February 2019). - Admiralty Inlet - (1) Drift #1-12 correspond to tests with flow shielded DAISYs, unshielded DAISYs, a reference hydrophone, and drifting acoustic Doppler velocimeter with 5, 10, and 15 m tether lengths between surface expression and hydrophone recording package (July 2022). (2) Drift #13-20 correspond to tests of flow shielded DAISYs with three different tether materials (rubber cord, nylon line, and faired nylon line) in lengths of 5, 10, and 15 m (July 2022). - WETS - (1) Drift #30-32 correspond to tests with a heave plate incorporated into the tether (standard configuration for wave sites), rubber cord only, and rubber cord, but with a flow shielded hydrophone (November 2022). (2) Drift #49-58 and Drift #65-68 correspond to measurements around mooring infrastructure at the 60 m berth where time-delay-of-arrival localization was demonstrated for different DAISY arrangements and hydrophone depths (November 2022).

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗