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At least 145 records · Page 8

Aeroacoustic Study of a 26%-Scale Semispan Model of a Boeing 777 Wing in the NASA Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel

An acoustic and aerodynamic study was made of a 26%-scale unpowered Boeing 777 aircraft semispan model in the NASA Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel for the purpose of identifying and attenuating airframe noise sources. Simulated approach and landing configurations were evaluated at Mach numbers between 0.12 and 0.24. Cruise configurations were evaluated at Mach numbers between 0.24 and 0.33. The research team used two Ames phased-microphone arrays, a large fixed array and a small traversing array, mounted under the wing to locate and compare various noise sources in the wing high-lift system and landing gear. Numerous model modifications and noise alleviation devices were evaluated. Simultaneous with acoustic measurements, aerodynamic forces were recorded to document aircraft conditions and any performance changes caused by the geometric modifications. Numerous airframe noise sources were identified that might be important factors in the approach and landing noise of the full-scale aircraft. Several noise-control devices were applied to each noise source. The devices were chosen to manipulate and control, if possible, the flow around the various tips and through the various gaps of the high-lift system so as to minimize the noise generation. Fences, fairings, tip extensions, cove fillers, vortex generators, hole coverings, and boundary-layer trips were tested. In many cases, the noise-control devices eliminated noise from some sources at specific frequencies. When scaled to full-scale third-octave bands, typical noise reductions ranged from 1 to 10 dB without significant aerodynamic performance loss.

Horne, W. Clifton↗

Prediction of jet exhaust noise on airframe surfaces during flight

The behavior of pressure fluctuations measured on the airframe of a prototype high lift jet transport (YC-14) is presented. The data are characterized in terms of a particular jet exhaust flow field idealization, jet mixing noise, and exhaust shock noise. Generalized spectrum shapes and scaling relations for peak level and frequency of peak level are developed, and the frequency is found to depend on jet exhaust velocity and aircraft velocity. Comparisons are made with near-field engine exhaust noise of a conventional jet, and results suggest that the same two exhaust noises are important for both aircraft types. Surface fluctuating pressure data are assessed, and results suggest that the jet mixing and exhaust shock noise source characterizations for the YC-14 have useful applicability to conventionally configured jets.

Butzel, L. M.↗

In Search of the Physics: The Interplay of Experiment and Computation in Slat Aeroacoustics

The synergistic use of experiments and numerical simulations can uncover the underlying physics of airframe noise sources. We focus on the high-lift noise component associated with a leading-edge slat; flap side-edge noise is discussed in a companion paper by Streett et al. (2003). The present paper provides an overview of how slat noise was split into subcomponents and analyzed with carefully planned complementary experimental and numerical tests. We consider both tonal and broadband aspects of slat noise. The predicted far-field noise spectra are shown to be in good qualitative (and, to lesser extent, good quantitative agreement) with acoustic array measurements. Although some questions remain unanswered, the success of current airframe noise studies provides ample promise that remaining technical issues can be successfully addressed in the near future.

Khorrami, Mehdi R.↗

Aeroacoustics of Flight Vehicles: Theory and Practice. Volume 1: Noise Sources

Methodology recommended to evaluate aeroacoustic related problems is provided, and approaches to their solutions are suggested without extensive tables, nomographs, and derivations. Orientation is toward flight vehicles and emphasis is on underlying physical concepts. Theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects are covered, including the main formulations and comparisons of theory and experiment. The topics covered include: propeller and propfan noise, rotor noise, turbomachinery noise, jet noise classical theory and experiments, noise from turbulent shear flows, jet noise generated by large-scale coherent motion, airframe noise, propulsive lift noise, combustion and core noise, and sonic booms.

Propeller noise↗

Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations of Two Partial-Span Flap Wing Experiments

Structured Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations of two partial-span flap wing experiments were performed. The high-lift aerodynamic and aeroacoustic wind-tunnel experiments were conducted at both the NASA Ames 7-by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel and at the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility. The purpose of these tests was to accurately document the acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics associated with the principle airframe noise sources, including flap side-edge noise. Specific measurements were taken that can be used to validate analytic and computational models of the noise sources and associated aerodynamic for configurations and conditions approximating flight for transport aircraft. The numerical results are used to both calibrate a widely used CFD code, CFL3D, and to obtain details of flap side-edge flow features not discernible from experimental observations. Both experimental set-ups were numerically modeled by using multiple block structured grids. Various turbulence models, grid block-interface interaction methods and grid topologies were implemented. Numerical results of both simulations are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements and flow visualization observations. The flow field in the flap-edge region was adequately resolved to discern some crucial information about the flow physics and to substantiate the merger of the two vortical structures. As a result of these investigations, airframe noise modelers have proposed various simplified models which use the results obtained from the steady-state computations as input.

Takalluk, M. A.↗

Aeroacoustic Study of a High-Fidelity Aircraft Model: Part 1- Steady Aerodynamic Measurements

In this paper, we present steady aerodynamic measurements for an 18% scale model of a Gulfstream air-craft. The high fidelity and highly-instrumented semi-span model was developed to perform detailed aeroacoustic studies of airframe noise associated with main landing gear/flap components and gear-flap interaction noise, as well as to evaluate novel noise reduction concepts. The aeroacoustic tests, being conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel, are split into two entries. The first entry, completed November 2010, was entirely devoted to the detailed mapping of the aerodynamic characteristics of the fabricated model. Flap deflections of 39?, 20?, and 0? with the main landing gear on and off were tested at Mach numbers of 0.16, 0.20, and 0.24. Additionally, for each flap deflection, the model was tested with the tunnel both in the closed-wall and open-wall (jet) modes. During this first entry, global forces (lift and drag) and extensive steady and unsteady surface pressure measurements were obtained. Preliminary analysis of the measured forces indicates that lift, drag, and stall characteristics compare favorably with Gulfstream?s high Reynolds number flight data. The favorable comparison between wind-tunnel and flight data allows the semi-span model to be used as a test bed for developing/evaluating airframe noise reduction concepts under a relevant environment. Moreover, initial comparison of the aerodynamic measurements obtained with the tunnel in the closed- and open-wall configurations shows similar aerodynamic behavior. This permits the acoustic and off-surface flow measurements, planned for the second entry, to be conducted with the tunnel in the open-jet mode.

Khorrami, Mehdi R.↗

Research needs in aircraft noise prediction

Progress needed in understanding the mechanisms of aircraft noise generation and propagation is outlined using the focus provided by the need to predict accurately the noise produced and received at the ground by an aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport. The components of internal engine noise generation, jet exhaust, airframe noise and shielding and configuration effects, and the roles of atmospheric propagation and ground noise attenuation are presented and related to the prediction problem. The role of NASA in providing the focus and direction for needed advances is discussed, and possible contributions of the academic community in helping to fulfill the needs for accurate aircraft noise prediction methods are suggested.

Raney, J. P.↗

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.↗

Design and Use of Microphone Directional Arrays for Aeroacoustic Measurements

An overview of the development of two microphone directional arrays for aeroacoustic testing is presented. These arrays were specifically developed to measure airframe noise in the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility. A large aperture directional array using 35 flush-mounted microphones was constructed to obtain high resolution noise localization maps around airframe models. This array possesses a maximum diagonal aperture size of 34 inches. A unique logarithmic spiral layout design was chosen for the targeted frequency range of 2-30 kHz. Complementing the large array is a small aperture directional array, constructed to obtain spectra and directivity information from regions on the model. This array, possessing 33 microphones with a maximum diagonal aperture size of 7.76 inches, is easily moved about the model in elevation and azimuth. Custom microphone shading algorithms have been developed to provide a frequency- and position-invariant sensing area from 10-40 kHz with an overall targeted frequency range for the array of 5-60 kHz. Both arrays are employed in acoustic measurements of a 6 percent of full scale airframe model consisting of a main element NACA 632-215 wing section with a 30 percent chord half-span flap. Representative data obtained from these measurements is presented, along with details of the array calibration and data post-processing procedures.

Humphreys, William M., Jr.↗

Airframe self-noise: Four years of research

A critical assessment of the state of the art in airframe self-noise is presented. Full-scale data on the intensity, spectra and directivity of this noise source are evaluated in the light of the comprehensive theory developed by Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkins. Vibration of panels on commercial aircraft is identified as a possible additional source of airframe noise. The present understanding and methods for prediction of other component sources - airfoils, struts, and cavities - are discussed, and areas for further research as well as potential methods for airframe noise reduction are identified. Finally, the various experimental methods which have been developed for airframe noise research are discussed and sample results are presented.

Hardin, J. C.↗

Aircraft Noise Reduction Subproject Overview

The material presents highlights of propulsion and airframe noise research being completed for the Advanced Air Transport Technology Project. The basis of noise reduction plans along with representative work for the airframe, propulsion, and propulsion-airframe integration is discussed for the Aircraft Noise reduction Subproject.

noise reduction↗

Small Engine Technology (SET). Task 33: Airframe, Integration, and Community Noise Study

Task Order 33 had four primary objectives as follows: (1) Identify and prioritize the airframe noise reduction technologies needed to accomplish the NASA Pillar goals for business and regional aircraft. (2) Develop a model to estimate the effect of jet shear layer refraction and attenuation of internally generated source noise of a turbofan engine on the aircraft system noise. (3) Determine the effect on community noise of source noise changes of a generic turbofan engine operating from sea level to 15,000 feet. (4) Support lateral attenuation experiments conducted by NASA Langley at Wallops Island, VA, by coordinating opportunities for Contractor Aircraft to participate as a noise source during the noise measurements. Noise data and noise prediction tools, including airframe noise codes, from the NASA Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) program were applied to assess the current status of noise reduction technologies relative to the NASA pillar goals for regional and small business jet aircraft. In addition, the noise prediction tools were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of airframe-related noise reduction concepts developed in the AST program on reducing the aircraft system noise. The AST noise data and acoustic prediction tools used in this study were furnished by NASA.

Lieber, Lys S.↗

A Field-Deployable Wireless Data Acquisition System for Ground-Test Arrays

This paper describes the development, characterization, and deployment of a field-deployable wireless data acquisition system for ground-test arrays, applicable in noise-source localization or beamforming measurements such as those encountered during airframe noise flyover measurement tests. The system design is enabled by commercially available, low-power Internet of Things (IoT) processors and Wi-Fi communication components. Time is synchronized across the array wirelessly by leveraging the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS). Initial laboratory characterization of the system demonstrated its ability to meet acoustic bandwidth, dynamic range, time synchronization, environmental, and battery life requirements for typical ground-test array deployments. A successful system deployment at NASA Langley was performed that included measurement of a suspended elevated static noise source, and Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) vehicle measurements using a quadcopter operated both in hover mode and forward flight. Beamform analysis of the acquired data showed an excellent ability of the array to extract accurate sound pressure levels from the suspended source. Synchronization of the array and vehicle GPS timecodes allowed the ability to extract acoustic signatures from the UAS vehicle during hover and forward flight maneuvers over the array. These results validate that the use of a high channel count wireless array is advantageous in airframe and propulsion noise flyover test campaigns.

wireless↗

Multiplanar Synthetic Arrays and Their Application to Full-Scale Landing Gear Noise Source Identification

Identification and quantification of noise sources generated by the landing gears of large civil transports are critical for the development of viable abatement technologies that can be applied locally to affect solely the source regions. Leveraging validated computational data sets obtained from airframe noise simulations of a full-scale B777-300ER aircraft, a frame-work based on multiplanar synthetic arrays was developed to examine landing gear sources. The position of the arrays relative to the aircraft nose or main landing gears, the number of microphones in each array, and their distribution pattern were judiciously selected to provide adequate spatial resolution of the sources in the primary flyover, sideline, and upstream directions while maintaining reasonable signal-to-noise ratio and beamwidth over a wide frequency range. Overall, seven synthetic arrays with 800 microphones each, for a total of 5,600 microphones, were used in the framework. Fully synchronous synthetic pressure records at each microphone location were obtained from the simulated data sets via a Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings integral approach, with flow quantities on a permeable data surface enclosing the source regions used as input. Various applications of synthetic multiplanar arrays to acoustic data analysis are presented; the advantages of the framework in properly resolving and identifying the B777 landing gear sources is demonstrated by comparing three-dimensional source distribution maps with those obtained from a synthetic version of the ground-based microphone array used during flight tests of the same aircraft.

airframe noise↗

Aeroacoustic Study of a Subscale Large Civil Transport (STAR) Model – Part 1: Simulations

Results from a computational aeroacoustic study of the Subsonic Transport Aeroacoustic Research (STAR) model are presented. The model, a 26%-scale semispan Boeing 777-200 aircraft, was an inceptive configuration in a comprehensive simulation campaign to accurately predict the airframe noise of a full-scale, large civil transport during landing. The lengthy process of obtaining a high-fidelity, CFD-ready, vetted, digital representation of the model is described in detail. The simulations were performed with the STAR model installed in the NASA Ames 40- by 80-foot full-scale wind tunnel to enable direct comparisons with aerodynamic and acoustic measurements of the model, presented separately in Part 2 of the study. Two versions of the wind tunnel test section were considered. The entire test section was used to simulate the aerodynamic behavior of the model; an open-wall representation of the section was adopted during the acoustic simulations to eliminate wall reflections. To preserve the aerodynamic equivalency of the model for the two simulated tunnel configurations, the open-wall computations were executed at an angle-of-attack one degree higher than that of the corresponding closed-wall tunnel. The effect on aerodynamic behavior of several minor geometry alterations necessary to con-form the simulated to the tested model was assessed – the modifications considerably altered the strength and extent of a flow separation zone on the inboard segment of the flap. Also evaluated was the impact of spatial resolution on aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of the model – in general, medium resolution was sufficient to establish convergence trends for averaged surface pressure behavior and proper localization of noise sources. After the aeroacoustic characteristics of the baseline configuration were predicted, a toboggan-shaped fairing designed to reduce main landing gear noise was evaluated computationally. Far-field noise spectra for the baseline and toboggan-equipped STAR model were calculated via a Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings integral approach, with flow quantities on a permeable data surface enclosing the source regions used as input. Results from the simulations indicated that, while the fairing reduced gear noise in the near-field, it had a negligible effect on the far-field noise signature of the model. This trend agreed with previously published experimental results obtained during sub-scale, isolated gear tests and full-scale flight tests

airframe noise↗

Aircraft noise prediction program theoretical manual, part 2

Detailed prediction methods for specific aircraft noise sources are given. These sources are airframe noise, combustion noise, fan noise, single and dual stream jet noise, and turbine noise. Modifications to the NASA methods which comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization standard method for aircraft noise prediction are given.

Zorumski, W. E.↗

A test of a vortex method for the computation of flap side edge noise

Upon approach to landing, a major source location of airframe noise occurs at the side edges of the part span, trailing edge flaps. In the vicinity of these flaps, a complex arrangement of spanwise flow with primary and secondary tip vortices may form. Each of these vortices is observed to become fully three-dimensional. In the present study, a numerical model is developed to investigate the noise radiated from the side edge of a flap. The inherent three-dimensionality of this flow forces us to carefully consider a numerical scheme which will be both accurate in its prediction of the flow acoustics and also computationally efficient. Vortex methods have offered a fast and efficient means of simulating many two and three-dimensional, vortex dominated flows. In vortex methods, the time development of the flow is tracked by following exclusively the vorticity containing regions. Through the Biot-Savart law, knowledge of the vorticity field enables one to obtain flow quantities at any desired location during the flow evolution. In the present study, a numerical procedure has been developed which incorporates the Lagrangian approach of vortex methods into a calculation for the noise radiated by a flow-surface interaction. In particular, the noise generated by a vortex in the presence of a flat half plane is considered. This problem serves as a basic model of flap edge flow. It also permits the direct comparison between our computed results and previous acoustic analyses performed for this problem. In our numerical simulations, the mean flow is represented by the complex potential W(z) = Aiz(exp l/2), which is obtained through conformal mapping techniques. The magnitude of the mean flow is controlled by the parameter A. This mean flow has been used in the acoustic analysis by Hardin and is considered a reasonable model of the flow field in the vicinity of the edge and away from the leading and trailing edges of the flap. To represent the primary vortex which occurs near the flap, a point vortex is introduced just below the flat half plane. Using a technique from panel methods, boundary conditions on the flap surface are satisfied by the introduction of a row of stationary point vortices along the extent of the flap. At each time step in the calculation, the strength of these vortices is chosen to eliminate the normal velocity at intermediary collocation points. The time development of the overall flow field is then tracked using standard techniques from vortex methods. Vortex trajectories obtained through this computation are in good agreement with those predicted by the analytical solution given by Hardin, thus verifying the viability of this procedure for more complex flow arrangements. For the flow acoustics, the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is numerically integrated. This equation supplies the far field acoustic pressure based upon pressures occurring along the flap surface. With our vortex method solution, surface pressures may be obtained with exceptional resolution. The Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is integrated using a spatially fourth order accurate Simpson's rule. Rational function interpolation is used to obtain the surface pressures at the appropriate retarded times. Comparisons between our numerical results for the acoustic pressure and those predicted by the Hardin analysis have been made. Preliminary results indicate the need for an improved integration technique. In the future, the numerical procedure developed in this study will be applied to the case of a rectangular flap of finite thickness and ultimately modified for application to the fully three-dimensional problem.

Martin, James E.↗