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At least 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1993

Free-wake computation of helicopter rotor flowfields in forward flight

A new method has been developed for computing advancing rotor flows. This method uses the Vorticity Embedding technique, which has been developed and validated over the last several years for hovering rotor problems. In this work, the unsteady full potential equation is solved on an Eulerian grid with an embedded vortical velocity field. This vortical velocity accounts for the influence of the wake. Dynamic grid changes that are required to accommodate prescribed blade motion and deformation are included using a novel grid blending method. Free wake computations have been performed on a two-bladed AH-1G rotor at low advance ratios including blade motion. Computed results are compared with experimental data. The sudden variations in airloads due to blade-vortex interactions on the advancing and retreating sides are well captured. The sensitivity of the computed solution to various factors like core size, time step and grids has been investigated. Computed wake geometries and their influence on the aerodynamic loads at these advance ratios are also discussed.

Ramachandran, K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Rotorcraft noise: Status and recent developments

This paper briefly reviews rotorcraft noise mechanisms and their approximate importance for different types of rotorcraft in different flight regimes. Discrete noise is due to periodic flow disturbances and includes impulsive noise produced by phenomena which occur during a limited segment of a blade's rotation. Broadband noise results when rotors interact with random disturbances, such as turbulence, which can originate in a variety of sources. The status of analysis techniques for these mechanisms are reviewed. Also, some recent progress is presented on the understanding and analysis of tilt rotor aircraft noise due to: (1) recirculation and blockage effects of the rotor flow in hover; and (2) blade-vortex interactions in forward and descending flight.

George, Albert R.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Correlation of airloads on a two-bladed helicopter rotor

Airloads measured on a two-bladed helicopter rotor in flight during the Ames' Tip Aerodynamic and Acoustic Test are compared with calculations from a comprehensive helicopter analysis (CAMRAD/JA), and the pressures compared with calculations from a full-potential rotor code (FPR). The flight-test results cover an advance ratio range of 0.19 to 0.38. The lowest-speed case is characterized by the presence of significant blade-vortex interactions. Good correlation of peak-to-peak vortex-induced loads and the corresponding pressures is obtained. Results of the correlation for this two-bladed rotor are substantially similar to those for three- and four-bladed rotors, including the tip-vortex core size for best correlation, calculation of the peak-to-peak loads on the retreating side, and calculation of vortex iduced loads on inboard radial stations. The higher-speed cases are characterized by the presence of transonic flow on the outboard sections of the blade. Comparison of calculated and measured airloads on the advancing side is not considered appropriate because the presence of shocks makes chordwise integration of the measured data difficult. However, good correlation of the corresponding pressures is obtained.

Fernandez, Francisco J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Forward sweep, low noise rotor blade

A forward-swept, low-noise rotor blade includes an inboard section, an aft-swept section, and a forward-swept outboard section. The rotor blade reduces the noise of rotorcraft, including both standard helicopters and advanced systems such as tiltrotors. The primary noise reduction feature is the forward sweep of the planform over a large portion of the outer blade radius. The rotor blade also includes an aft-swept section. The purpose of the aft-swept region is to provide a partial balance to pitching moments produced by the outboard forward-swept portion of the blade. The noise source showing maximum noise reduction is blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. Also reduced are thickness, noise, high speed impulsive noise, cabin vibration, and loading noise.

Brooks, Thomas F.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Flow structure generated by perpendicular blade vortex interaction and implications for helicopter noise predictions

This report summarizes accomplishments and progress for the period ending April 1995. Much of the work during this period has concentrated on preparation for an analysis of data produced by an extensive wind tunnel test. Time has also been spent further developing an empirical theory to account for the effects of blade-vortex interaction upon the circulation distribution of the vortex and on preliminary measurements aimed at controlling the vortex core size.

Devenport, William J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Evaluation of a doubly-swept blade tip for rotorcraft noise reduction

A computational study was performed for a doubly-swept rotor blade tip to determine its benefit for high-speed impulsive (HSI) and blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. This design consists of aft and forward sweep. For the HSI-noise computations, unsteady Euler calculations were performed for several variations to a rotor blade geometry. A doubly-swept planform was predicted to increase the delocalizing Mach number to 0.94 (representative of a 200+ kt helicopter). For the BVI-noise problem, it had been hypothesized that the doubly-swept blade tip, by producing a leading-edge vortex, would reduce the tip-vortex effect on BVI noise. A procedure was used in which the tip vortex velocity profile computed by a Navier-Stokes solver was used to compute the inflow associated with BVI. This inflow was used by a Euler solver to compute the unsteady pressures for an acoustic analysis. The results of this study were inconclusive due to the difficulty in accurately predicting the viscous tip vortex downstream of the blade. Also, for the condition studied, no leading-edge vortex formed at the tip.

Wake, Brian E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A higher harmonic control test in the DNW to reduce impulsive BVI noise

A model rotor acoustic test was performed to examine the benefit of higher control (HHC) of blade pitch to reduce blade-vortex interaction (BVI) impulse noise. A 40-percent dynamically scaled, four-bladed model of a BO-105 main rotor was tested in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel (DNW). Acoustic measurements were made in a large plane underneath the rotor employing a traversing in-flow microphone array in the anechoic environment of the open test section. Noise characteristics and noise directivity patterns as well as vibratory loads were measured and used to demonstrate the changes when different HHC schedules (different modes, amplitudes, phases) were applied. Dramatic changes of the acoustic signatures and the noise radiation directivity with HHC phase variations are found. Compared to the baseline conditions (without HHD), significant mid-frequency noise reductions of as much as 6 dB are obtained for low speed descent conditions where BVI is most intensive. For other rotor operating conditions with less intense BVI there is less or no benefit from the use of HHC. Low frequency loading noise and vibratory loads, especially at optimum noise reduction control settings, are found to increase.

Splettstoesser, Wolf R.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Acoustic flight tests of rotorcraft noise-abatement approaches using local differential GPS guidance

This paper presents the test design, instrumentation set-up, data acquisition, and the results of an acoustic flight experiment to study how noise due to blade-vortex interaction (BVI) may be alleviated. The flight experiment was conducted using the NASA/Army Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) research helicopter. A Local Differential Global Positioning System (LDGPS) was used for precision navigation and cockpit display guidance. A laser-based rotor state measurement system on board the aircraft was used to measure the main rotor tip-path-plane angle-of-attack. Tests were performed at Crows Landing Airfield in northern California with an array of microphones similar to that used in the standard ICAO/FAA noise certification test. The methodology used in the design of a RASCAL-specific, multi-segment, decelerating approach profile for BVI noise abatement is described, and the flight data pertaining to the flight technical errors and the acoustic data for assessing the noise reduction effectiveness are reported.

Chen, Robert T. N.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Acoustic design of rotor blades using a genetic algorithm

A genetic algorithm coupled with a simplified acoustic analysis was used to generate low-noise rotor blade designs. The model includes thickness, steady loading and blade-vortex interaction noise estimates. The paper presents solutions for several variations in the fitness function, including thickness noise only, loading noise only, and combinations of the noise types. Preliminary results indicate that the analysis provides reasonable assessments of the noise produced, and that genetic algorithm successfully searches for "good" designs. The results show that, for a given required thrust coefficient, proper blade design can noticeably reduce the noise produced at some expense to the power requirements.

V. L. Wells↗

NASA NTRS1995

Evaluation of the impact of noise metrics on tiltrotor aircraft design

A subjective noise evaluation was conducted in which the test participants evaluated the annoyance of simulated sounds representative of future civil tiltrotor aircraft. The subjective responses were correlated with the noise metrics of A-weighted sound pressure level, overall sound pressure level, and perceived level. The results indicated that correlation between subjective response and A-weighted sound pressure level is considerably enhanced by combining it in a multiple regression with overall sound pressure level. As a single metric, perceived level correlated better than A-weighted sound pressure level due to greater emphasis on low frequency noise components. This latter finding was especially true for indoor noise where the mid and high frequency noise components are attenuated by typical building structure. Using the results of the subjective noise evaluation, the impact on tiltrotor aircraft design was also evaluated. While A-weighted sound pressure level can be reduced by reduction in tip speed, an increase in number of rotor blades is required to achieve significant reduction of low frequency noise as measured by overall sound pressure level. Additional research, however, is required to achieve comparable reductions in impulsive noise due to blade-vortex interaction, and also to achieve reduction in broad band noise.

Sternfeld, H.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Prop Rotor Acoustics for Conceptual Design

The report describes a methodology for the simple prediction of noise generated by a tilt-rotor aircraft in hover and forward flight. In order to avoid the computational penalties associated with exact noise calculations, simplifications to the loading noise calculation and the blade-vortex interaction noise calculation have been introduced. The loading noise computation utilizes a constant chordwise loading assumption, while the BVI noise level is estimated through use of a dimensionless parameter, here termed 'BVI number.' The acoustic computation code, designed as a module for use with VASCOMP, has two modes of operation, one as a quick estimator of acoustic amplitude produced by a tilt rotor with a typical rotor design and the other as a tool for rotor parametric design studies.

Wells, Valana L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Prop Rotor Acoustics for Conceptual Design

Wells, Valana L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Aeroacoustic Codes For Rotor Harmonic and BVI Noise--CAMRAD.Mod1/HIRES

This paper presents a status of non-CFD aeroacoustic codes at NASA Langley Research Center for the prediction of helicopter harmonic and Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise. The prediction approach incorporates three primary components: CAMRAD.Mod1 - a substantially modified version of the performance/trim/wake code CAMRAD; HIRES - a high resolution blade loads post-processor; and WOPWOP - an acoustic code. The functional capabilities and physical modeling in CAMRAD.Mod1/HIRES will be summarized and illustrated. A new multi-core roll-up wake modeling approach is introduced and validated. Predictions of rotor wake and radiated noise are compared with to the results of the HART program, a model BO-105 windtunnel test at the DNW in Europe. Additional comparisons are made to results from a DNW test of a contemporary design four-bladed rotor, as well as from a Langley test of a single proprotor (tiltrotor) three-bladed model configuration. Because the method is shown to help eliminate the necessity of guesswork in setting code parameters between different rotor configurations, it should prove useful as a rotor noise design tool.

Brooks, Thomas F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Hover Acoustic Characteristics of the XV-15 with Advanced Technology Blades

An experiment has been performed to investigate the far-field hover acoustic characteristics of the XV-15 aircraft with advanced technology blades (ATB). An extensive, high-quality, far-field acoustics data base was obtained for a rotor tip speed range of 645-771 ft/s. A 12-microphone, 500-ft radius semicircular array combined with two aircraft headings provided acoustic data over the full 360-deg azimuth about the aircraft with a resolution of 15 deg. Altitude variations provided data from near in-plane to 45 deg below the rotor tip path plane. Acoustic directivity characteristics in the lower hemisphere are explored through pressure time histories, narrow-band spectra, and contour plots. Directivity patterns were found to vary greatly with azimuth angle, especially in the forward quadrants. Sharp positive pressure pulses typical of blade-vortex interactions were found to propagate aft of the aircraft and were most intense at 45 deg below the rotor plane. Modest overall sound pressure levels were measured near in-plane indicating that thickness noise is not a major problem for this aircraft when operating in the hover mode with ATB. Rotor tip speed reductions reduced the average overall sound pressure level (dB (0.0002 dyne/cm(exp 2)) by nearly 8 dB in-plane, and 12.6 deg below the rotor plane.

Conner, David A.↗

NASA NTRS1996

New Computational Methods for the Prediction and Analysis of Helicopter Noise

This paper describes several new methods to predict and analyze rotorcraft noise. These methods are: 1) a combined computational fluid dynamics and Kirchhoff scheme for far-field noise predictions, 2) parallel computer implementation of the Kirchhoff integrations, 3) audio and visual rendering of the computed acoustic predictions over large far-field regions, and 4) acoustic tracebacks to the Kirchhoff surface to pinpoint the sources of the rotor noise. The paper describes each method and presents sample results for three test cases. The first case consists of in-plane high-speed impulsive noise and the other two cases show idealized parallel and oblique blade-vortex interactions. The computed results show good agreement with available experimental data but convey much more information about the far-field noise propagation. When taken together, these new analysis methods exploit the power of new computer technologies and offer the potential to significantly improve our prediction and understanding of rotorcraft noise.

Strawn, Roger C.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Tilt Rotor Aircraft Aeroacoustics

A fleet of civil tilt rotor transports offers a means of reducing airport congestion and point-to-point travel time. The speed, range, and fuel economy of these aircraft, along with their efficient use of vertiport area, make them good candidates for short-to-medium range civil transport. However, to be successfully integrated into the civilian community, the tilt rotor must be perceived as a quiet, safe, and economical mode of transportation that does not harm the environment. In particular, noise impact has been identified as a possible barrier to the civil tilt rotor. Along with rotor conversion-mode flight, and blade-vortex interaction noise during descent, hover mode is a noise problem for tilt rotor operations. In the present research, tilt rotor hover aeroacoustics have been studied analytically, experimentally, and computationally. Various papers on the subject were published as noted in the list of publications. More recently, experimental measurements were made on a 1/12.5 scale model of the XV-15 in hover and analyses of this data and extrapolations to full scale were also carried out. A dimensional analysis showed that the model was a good aeroacoustic approximation to the full-scale aircraft, and scale factors were derived to extrapolate the model measurements to the full-scale XV-15. The experimental measurements included helium bubble flow visualization, silk tuft flow visualization, 2-component hot wire anemometry, 7-hole pressure probe measurements, vorticity measurements, and outdoor far field acoustic measurements. The hot wire measurements were used to estimate the turbulence statistics of the flow field into the rotors, such as length scales, velocity scales, dissipation, and turbulence intermittency. Several different configurations of the model were tested: (1) standard configurations (single isolated rotor, two rotors without the aircraft, standard tilt rotor configuration); (2) flow control devices (the 'plate', the 'diagonal fences'); (3) basic configuration changes (increasing the rotor/rotor spacing, reducing the rotor plane/wing clearance. operating the rotors out of phase). Also, an approximation to Sikorsky's Variable Diameter Tilt Rotor (VDTR) configuration was tested, and some flow measurements were made on a semi-span configuration of the model. Acoustic predictions were made using LOWSON.M, a Mathematica code Mean aerodynamic models were developed based on hover performance predictions from HOVER.FOR. This hover prediction code used blade element theory for the aerodynamics, and Prandtl's Vortex theory to model the wake, along with empirical formulas for the effects of Reynolds number, Mach number, and stall. Aerodynamic models were developed from 7-hole pressure probe measurements of the mean velocity into the model rotors.

George, Albert R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Helicopter Model Rotor-Blade Vortex Interaction Impulsive Noise: Scalability and Parametric Variations

Acoustic data taken in the anechoic Deutsch-Niederlaendischer Windkanal (DNW) have documented the blade-vortex interaction (BVI) impulsive noise radiated from a 1/7-scale model main rotor of the AH-1 series helicopter. Averaged model-scale data were compared with averaged full-scale, in-flight acoustic data under similar non-dimensional test conditions using an improved data analysis technique. At low advance ratios (mu = 0.164 - 0.194), the BVI impulsive noise data scale remarkably well in level, waveform, and directivity patterns. At moderate advance ratios (mu = 0.224 - 0.270), the scaling deteriorates, suggesting that the model-scale rotor is not adequately simulating the full-scale BVI noise. Presently, no proved explanation of this discrepancy exists. Measured BVI noise radiation is highly sensitive to all of the four governing nondimensional parameters--hover tip Mach number, advance ratio, local inflow ratio, and thrust coefficient.

Boxwell, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Navier-Stokes Solutions of Rotor and Rotor-Body Flows

This paper will review the advances made recently in the Navier-Stokes CFD methods to simulate aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of helicopter rotors and rotor-body flows. Although a complete flowfield simulation of full helicopter is currently not feasible with these methods, impressive gains have been made in analyzing individual components of this complex problem in a very detailed manner. The use of the state-of-the-art numerical algorithms in solution methods, in conjunction with powerful supercomputers, like the Cray-2, have enabled noticeable progress to be made in modeling viscous-inviscid interactions, blade-vortex interactions, tip-vortex: simulation and wake effects, as well as high speed impulsive noise in hover and forward flight for isolated rotor blades. This paper will critically evaluate the presently available Euler and Navier-Stokes methods, both finite-difference and finite volume methods using structured and unstructured grids for helicopter applications for accuracy, suitability, and computational efficiency. The review will also include the recent progress made using overset grids to model rotor-body flows. All the material for this review will be drawn from the published material shown below.

Srinivasan, G. R.↗