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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9

On the possibility of singularities in the acoustic field of supersonic sources when BEM is applied to a wave equation

Using a time domain method based on the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation, a reliable explanation is provided for the origin of singularities observed in the numerical prediction of supersonic propeller noise. In the last few years Tam and, more recently, Amiet have analyzed the phenomenon from different points of view. The method proposed here offers a clear interpretation of the singularities based on a new description of sources, relating to the behavior of lines where the propeller blade surface exhibit slope discontinuity.

De Bernardis, E.↗

Structure-borne noise control for propeller aircraft

A laboratory test apparatus was developed which would allow the study and development of propeller wake/vortex-induced structure-borne interior noise control measures. Various methods of wing structural modification, including blocking masses, surface damping treatments, and tuned mechanical absorbers, were evaluated relative to reduced interior noise levels. Inboard wing fuel was found to act as an effective blocking mass. Wing panel add-on damping treatment in the form of a single, constrained layer was not an effective control measure, except in the area of the propeller wake. However, highly damped, tuned mechanical absorbers were found to be the most efficient structure-borne noise (SBN) control measure.

Unruh, James F.↗

Design for prevention of acoustic fatigue

It is pointed out that new noise prediction methods and acoustic life estimation methods have matured to the point where they can be combined into a unified engineering procedure. "Life derivatives" can be extracted from parametric charts to furnish design data for preventing acoustic fatigue. The acoustic fatigue life is shown to be sensitive to the damping ratio through the use of life derivatives. The localized nature of propeller noise can be quantified with an "isodecibel" contour diagram.Even though the peak sound pressure level may be high, the directional derivatives show the noise decay rates with distance. Acoustic fatigue design is discussed from the overall design methodology and is shown to be similar to other structural design problems. While nonlinearities present a formidable design engineering problem, they are manageable by proven semi-empirical techniques. For new design problems, it is imperative to determine whether the data base completely spans the design variables.

Smith, H. W.↗

Energy consumption characteristics of transports using the prop-fan concept

The fuel saving and economic potentials of the prop-fan high-speed propeller concept were evaluated for twin-engine commercial transport airplanes designed for 3333.6 km range, 180 passengers, and Mach 0.8 cruise. A fuel saving of 9.7% at the design range was estimated for a prop-fan airplane having wing-mounted engines, while a 5.8% saving was estimated for a design having the engines mounted on the aft body. The fuel savings and cost were found to be sensitive to the propeller noise level and to aerodynamic drag effects due to wing-slipstream interaction. Uncertainties in these effects could change the fuel savings as much as + or - 50%. A modest improvement in direct operating cost (DOC) was estimated for the wing-mounted prop-fan at current fuel prices. This improvement could become substantial in the event of further relative increases in the price of oil. The improvement in DOC requires the achievement of the nominal fuel saving and reductions in propeller and gearbox maintenance costs relative to current experience.

Source record↗

High speed propeller performance and noise predictions at takeoff/landing conditions

The performance and noise of a high speed SR-7A model propeller under takeoff/landing conditions are considered. The blade loading distributions are obtained by solving the three-dimensional Euler equations and the sound pressure levels are computed using a time domain approach. At the nominal takeoff operating point, the blade sections near the hub are lightly or negatively loaded. The chordwise loading distributions are distinctly different from those of cruise conditions. The noise of the SR-7A model propeller at takeoff is dominated by the loading noise, similar to that at cruise conditions. The waveforms of the acoustic pressure signature are nearly sinusoidal in the plane of the propeller. The computed directivity of the blade passing frequency tone agrees fairly well with the data at nominal takeoff blade angle.

Nallasamy, M.↗

High speed propeller performance and noise predictions at takeoff/landing conditions

The performance and noise of a high speed SR-7A model propeller under takeoff/landing conditions are considered. The blade loading distributions are obtained by solving the three-dimensional Euler equations and the sound pressure levels are computed using a time domain approach. At the nominal takeoff operating point, the blade sections near the hub are lightly or negatively loaded. The chordwise loading distributions are distinctly different from those of cruise conditions. The noise of the SR-7A model propeller at takeoff is dominated by the loading noise, similar to that at cruise conditions. The waveforms of the acoustic pressure signature are nearly sinusoidal in the plane of the propeller. The computed directivity of the blade passing frequency tone agrees fairly well with the data at nominal takeoff blade angle.

Nallasamy, M.↗

Fuel saving potential of Mach 0.8 twin engine prop-fan transports

The fuel saving and economic potentials of the prop-fan high-speed propeller concept have been evaluated for twin-engine commercial transport airplanes designed for 3333.6 km range, 180 passengers, and Mach 0.8 cruise. A fuel saving of 9.7% at the design range was estimated for a prop-fan aircraft having wing-mounted engines, while a 5.8% saving was estimated for a design having the engines mounted on the aft body. The fuel savings and cost were found to be sensitive to the propeller noise level and to aerodynamic drag effects due to wing-slipstream interaction. Uncertainties in these effects could change the fuel savings as much as plus or minus 50%. A modest improvement in direct operating cost was estimated for the wing-mounted prop-fan at current fuel prices.

Davenport, F. J.↗

Directivity of acoustic radiation from sources

The radiation properties of acoustic monopoles and dipoles are described. The directivity of radiation from these sources in a free field and in the presence of an absorptive surface is described. The kinematic effects on source radiation due to translation and rotation are discussed. Experimental measurements of sound from an acoustic monopole in motion and the characteristics of helicopter rotor and propeller noise are reviewed. An introduction is provided to several essential concepts required by noise control engineers making measurements of noise from moving sources in the proximity of the ground.

Lansing, D. L.↗

Directivity of acoustic radiation from sources

The radiation properties of acoustic monopoles and dipoles are described, as well as the directivity of radiation from these sources in a free field and in the presence of an absorptive surface. The kinematic effects on source radiation due to translation and rotation are discussed. Experimental measurements of sound from an acoustic monopole in motion and the characteristics of helicopter rotor and propeller noise are reviewed. Several essential concepts required by noise control engineers making measurements of noise from moving sources in the proximity of the ground are introduced.

Lansing, D. L.↗

Evaluation of Aero Commander sidewall vibration and interior acoustic data: Static operations

Results for the vibration measured at five locations on the fuselage structure during static operations are presented. The analysis was concerned with the magnitude of the vibration and the relative phase between different locations, the frequency response (inertance) functions between the exterior pressure field and the vibration, and the coherent output power functions at interior microphone locations based on sidewall vibration. Fuselage skin panels near the plane of rotation of the propeller accept propeller noise excitation more efficiently than they do exhaust noise.

Piersol, A. G.↗

Response of stiffened sandwich panels

An increasingly important part of the design of skin-stringer systems, such as those found in flight vehicles, is the ability to reduce surface vibration levels when they are subjected to the dynamic loads of jet, or propeller noise. One common method of reducing the response of these structures is by layered construction using viscoelastic materials. Thus analytical methods to describe such systems are essential.

Slazak, M.↗

Propulsion/ACEE

The research objectives of the NASA aircraft energy efficiency program are summarized. Engine component improvements for turbofan engines, diagnostics, the development of advanced turboprop engines, and propeller noise analysis are discussed.

Source record↗

Mechanisms of transmission and control of low-frequency sound in aircraft interiors

A simplified analytical model is used to study the principal mechanisms at work in propeller noise source radiation, fuselage response, and the behavior of the coupled inner acoustic field, in order to control low frequency sound in aircraft interiors. Both active and passive methods of noise control are comparatively evaluated in light of the transmission mechanisms. Fuselage vibrational response is noted to be dominated by only a few lower order circumferential modes.

Fuller, C. R.↗

Structural influence of cabin floor on sound transmission into propeller aircraft - Analytical investigations

The structural influence of the cabin floor on the transmission of low frequency propeller noise into aircraft interiors has been examined using a simplified analytical model. The response amplitudes and distributions of shell displacement and internal acoustic pressure are examined for various frequencies and floor configurations. In general, at lower frequencies the floor exerts little structural influence on the transmission of acoustic energy to the interior. However, as the frequency nears half the cylinder ring frequency the floor can be seen to significantly alter the internal pressure distributions and response.

Fuller, C. R.↗

Active control of sound fields in elastic cylinders by multi-control forces

An unstiffened cylindrical model was used to study the control of sound transmission into aircraft cabins by the use of multi-control forces applied directly to the cylinder wall. External acoustic monopoles were located on each side of the cylinder to approximate the propeller noise source. This allowed the study of a dual control system utilizing multi-control forces in conjunction with synchrophasing of the twin acoustic monopole sources. For acoustic resonant conditions within the cavity, a spatially averaged noise reduction of approximately 30 dB was achieved using the active control system for both in-phase and out-of-phase monopoles; however, effective reduction of the sound field was dependent upon judiciously positioning the control forces for optimal control of the sound field.

Jones, J. D.↗

Propeller-performance charts for transport airplanes

The preliminary selection of a propeller on the basis of cruising and take-off performance for application to transport airplanes at flight Mach numbers up to 0.8 can be accomplished by the use of charts and methods presented. The charts are of sufficient scope to permit a fairly rapid evaluation of the propeller performance for engine power ratings of 1,000 to 10,000 horsepower. The method is presented primarily in the interest of propeller-noise abatement.

Gilman, Jean, Jr↗

A New Principle of Sound Frequency Analysis

In connection with the study of aircraft and propeller noises, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics has developed an instrument for sound-frequency analysis which differs fundamentally from previous types, and which, owing to its simplicity of principle, construction, and operation, has proved to be of value in this investigation. The method is based on the well-known fact that the Ohmic loss in an electrical resistance is equal to the sum of the losses of the harmonic components of a complex wave, except for the case in which any two components approach or attain vectorial identity, in which case the Ohmic loss is increased by a definite amount. The principle of frequency analysis has been presented mathematically and a number of distinct advantages relative to previous methods have been pointed out. An automatic recording instrument embodying this principle is described in detail. It employs a beat-frequency oscillator as a source of variable frequency. A large number of experiments have verified the predicted superiority of the method. A number of representative records are presented.

Theodorsen, Theodore↗

Derivation of Formulations 1 and 1A of Farassat

Formulations 1 and 1A are the solutions of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation with surface sources only when the surface moves at subsonic speed. Both formulations have been successfully used for helicopter rotor and propeller noise prediction for many years although we now recommend using Formulation 1A for this purpose. Formulation 1 has an observer time derivative that is taken numerically, and thus, increasing execution time on a computer and reducing the accuracy of the results. After some discussion of the Green's function of the wave equation, we derive Formulation 1 which is the basis of deriving Formulation 1A. We will then show how to take this observer time derivative analytically to get Formulation 1A. We give here the most detailed derivation of these formulations. Once you see the whole derivation, you will ask yourself why you did not do it yourself!

Farassat, F.↗