Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Duct Modes”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

Coupling of Low Speed Fan Stator Vane Unsteady Pressures to Duct Modes: Measured versus Predicted

Uniform-flow annular-duct Green's functions are the essential elements of the classical acoustic analogy approach to the problem of computing the noise generated by rotor-stator interaction inside the fan duct. This paper investigates the accuracy of this class of Green's functions for predicting the duct noise levels when measured stator vane unsteady surface pressures are used as input to the theoretical formulation. The accuracy of the method is evaluated by comparing the predicted and measured acoustic power levels for the NASA 48 inch low speed Active Noise Control Fan. The unsteady surface pressures are measured,by an array of microphones imbedded in the suction and pressure sides of a single vane, while the duct mode levels are measured using a rotating rake system installed in the inlet and exhaust sections of the fan duct. The predicted levels are computed using properly weighted integrals of measured surface pressure distribution. The data-theory comparisons are generally quite good particularly when the mode cut-off criterion is carefully interpreted. This suggests that, at least for low speed fans, the uniform-flow annular-duct Green's function theory can be reliably used for prediction of duct mode levels if the cascade surface pressure distribution is accurately known.

Sutliff, Daniel L.↗

Dual Rotating Rake Measurements of Higher-Order Duct Modes: Validation Using Experimental and Numerical Data

A rotating rake mode measurement system was designed to measure acoustic duct modes generated by a fan stage. After analysis of the measured data, the mode coefficient amplitudes and phases were quantified. Early studies using this system found that mode power levels computed from rotating rake measured data would agree with the far-field power levels. However, this agreement required that the sound from the noise sources within the duct propagated outward from the duct exit without reflection and previous studies suggested conditions could exist where significant reflections could occur. This paper shows that mounting a second rake to the rotating system, with an offset in both the axial and the azimuthal directions, measures the data necessary to determine the modes propagating in both directions within a duct. The rotating rake data analysis technique was extended to include the data measured by the second rake. The analysis resulted in a set of circumferential mode coefficients at each of the two rake microphone locations. Radial basis functions were then least-squares fit to this data to obtain the radial mode coefficients for the modes propagating in both directions within the duct while accounting for the presence of evanescent modes. The validation of the dual-rotating-rake measurements was conducted using data from a combination of experiments and numerical calculations to compute reflection coefficients and other mode coefficient ratios. Compared to results from analytical and numerical computations, the results from dual-rotating-rake measured data followed the expected trends when frequency, mode number, and duct termination geometry were changed.

Validation↗

Source Diagnostic Fan II (22-inch) Duct Mode Characteristics as Measured by the Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System while Operated in the NASA Glenn 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

The second entry of the Source Diagnostic Test (SDT2) was a continuation of the first SDT entry with additional parameters tested. The rotor, stators, and general flow path hardware used in SDT2 were the same as those for SDT1. This included a radial baseline set of stator vanes, which had a vane count such that the rotor-stator interaction at the fan blade passing fundamental was cut-off, as is typical for modern turbofans. Two sets of stator vanes were designed and tested with a count generating a cut-on rotor-stator interaction at the fan blade passing fundamental. One of the sets maintained the no aerodynamic sweep as the radial baseline, the other was designed with leading edge sweep with the intent to generate lower noise. The NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System was utilized to obtain a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present. The system is a radial rake immersed into the duct that continuously rotates about the duct centerline. For each of the three stator vane configurations, data were acquired at several different fan speeds which included nominal, approach, cutback, and takeoff conditions. Analysis of the mode power level results at the fan fundamentals showed the improved designed set resulted in lower rotor-stator interaction mode acoustic levels. Multiple-pure tones generated by the M5 rotor in the inlet were also measured.

Turbofan, Duct Modes↗

Source Diagnostic Fan II (22-inch) Duct Mode Characteristics as Measured by the Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System while Operated in the NASA Glenn 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

The second entry of the Source Diagnostic Test (SDT2) was a continuation of the first SDT entry with additional parameters tested. The rotor, stators, and general flow path hardware used in SDT2 were the same as those for SDT1. This included a radial baseline set of stator vanes, which had a vane count such that the rotor-stator interaction at the fan blade passing fundamental was cut-off, as is typical for modern turbofans. Two sets of stator vanes were designed and tested with a count generating a cut-on rotor-stator interaction at the fan blade passing fundamental. One of the sets maintained the no aerodynamic sweep as the radial baseline, the other was designed with leading edge sweep with the intent to generate lower noise. The NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System was utilized to obtain a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present. The system is a radial rake emersed into the duct that continuously rotates about the duct centerline. For each of the three stator vane configurations, data were acquired at several different fan speeds which included nominal, approach, cutback, and takeoff conditions. Analysis of the mode power level results at the fan fundamentals showed the improved designed set resulted in lower rotor-stator interaction mode acoustic levels. Multiple-pure tones generated by the M5 rotor in the inlet were also measured.

Turbofan↗

Rotating Rake Turbofan Duct Mode Measurement System

An experimental measurement system was developed and implemented by the NASA Glenn Research Center in the 1990s to measure turbofan duct acoustic modes. The system is a continuously rotating radial microphone rake that is inserted into the duct. This Rotating Rake provides a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in a ducted fan and has been used on a variety of test articles: from a low-speed, concept test rig, to a full-scale production turbofan engine. The Rotating Rake has been critical in developing and evaluating a number of noise reduction concepts as well as providing experimental databases for verification of several aero-acoustic codes. More detailed derivation of the unique Rotating Rake equations are presented in the appendix.

Sutliff, Daniel L.↗

Duct Mode Measurements on the TFE731-60 Full Scale Engine

A continuously rotating rake with radial microphones was developed to measure the inlet and exhaust duct modes on a TFE731-60 turbofan engine. This was the first time the rotating rake technology was used on a production engine. The modal signature for the first three fan harmonics was obtained in the inlet and exhaust. Rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction modes were measured. Total harmonic power was calculated over a range of fan speeds. Above sonic tip speed, the rotor locked mode was not strong enough to be identified, but the 'buzz-saw' noise at fan sub-harmonics was identified.

Sutliff, Daniel L.↗

Quiet High Speed Fan II (22-inch) Duct Mode Characteristics as Measured by the Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System while Operated in the NASA Glenn 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Wind Tunnel at a tunnel Mach number of 0.10. This was an entry to investigate the effect of “stator clocking” on noise. The fan consisted of a moderately aft swept rotor and an aft swept set of stator vanes. The fan stage consisted of 22 rotor blades, 50 stator vanes, and 10 downstream support struts. A set of stator vanes designed for lower noise was tested as well as a baseline stator vane set. The stator assembly could be rotated several degrees to adjust the clocking angle between the stator vane pack and the strut assembly. All configurations were with a hard wall duct (no acoustic treatment). The NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System was utilized to obtain a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in the ducted fan. The system is a radial rake emersed into the duct that continuously rotates about the duct centerline. For the two stator configurations, data were acquired at several different fan speeds which included nominal, approach, cutback, and takeoff conditions. Analysis of the mode power level results at the fan fundamentals showed the improved designed set resulted in lower rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction acoustic levels for the interaction modes. Varying the angle between the stators and struts was shown to be a viable method to achieve a minimum in rotor-strut interaction mode power level. Multiple-pure-tones generated by the Quiet High Speed Fan II in the inlet were also measured.

Turbofan, Duct Modes↗

Quiet High Speed Fan II (22-inch) Duct Mode Characteristics as Measured by the Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System while Operated in the NASA Glenn 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Wind Tunnel test at a tunnel Mach number of 0.10. This was an entry to investigate the effect of “stator clocking” on noise. The fan consisted of a moderately aft swept rotor and an aft swept set of stator vanes. The fan stage consisted of 22 rotor blades, 50 stator vanes, and 10 downstream support struts. A set of stator vanes designed for lower noise was tested as well as a baseline stator vane set. The stator assembly could be rotated several degrees to adjust the clocking angle between the stator vane pack and the strut assembly. All configurations were with a hard wall duct (no acoustic treatment). The NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System was utilized to obtain a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in the ducted fan. The system is a radial rake emersed into the duct that continuously rotates about the duct centerline. For the two stator configurations, data were acquired at several different fan speeds which included nominal, approach, cutback, and takeoff conditions. Analysis of the mode power level results at the fan fundamentals showed the improved designed set resulted in lower rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction acoustic levels for the interaction modes. Varying the angle between the stators and struts was shown to be a viable method to achieve a minimum in rotor-strut interaction mode power level. Multiple-pure-tones generated by the Quiet High Speed Fan II in the inlet were also measured.

Turbofan, Duct Modes↗

Source Diagnostic Fan II (22-Inch) Duct Mode Characteristics as Measured by the Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System while Operated in the NASA Glenn 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

A 22-inch scale model of the Honeywell Quiet High Speed Fan II was tested in the NASA Glenn 9- by 15-foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel at a tunnel Mach number of 0.10. This was an entry to investigate the effect of “stator clocking” on noise. The fan consisted of a moderately aft swept rotor, and an aft swept set of stator vanes. The fan stage consisted of 22 rotor blades, 50 stator vanes, and 10 downstream support struts. A set of stator vanes designed for lower noise was tested as well as a baseline stator vane set. The stator assembly could be rotated several degrees to adjust the clocking angle between the stator vane pack and the strut assembly. All configurations were with a hard wall duct (no acoustic treatment). The NASA Glenn Research Center’s Rotating Rake Mode Measurement System was utilized to obtain a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in the ducted fan. The system is a radial rake emersed into the duct that continuously rotates about the duct centerline. For the two stator configurations, data were acquired at several different fan speeds which included nominal, approach, cutback, and takeoff conditions. Analysis of the mode power level results at the fan fundamentals showed the improved designed set resulted in lower rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction acoustic levels for the interaction modes. Varying the angle between the stators and struts was shown to be a viable method to achieve a minimum in rotor-strut interaction mode power level. Multiple-pure-tones generated by the Quiet High Speed Fan II in the inlet were also measured.

Fan Noise↗

Effects of mean flow on duct mode optimum suppression rates

The nature of the solution to the convected acoustic wave equation and associated boundary conditions for rectangular ducts containing uniform mean flow is examined in terms of the complex mapping between the wall admittance and characteristic mode eigenvalues. It is shown that the Cremer optimum suppression criteria must be modified to account for the effects of flow below certain critical values of the nondimensional frequency parameter of duct height divided by sound wavelength. The implications of these results on the design of low frequency suppressors are considered.

Kraft, R. E.↗

Beyond Guesswork: Code Verification for Acoustic Duct Mode Prediction

The code used in the work (Swirl) is a frequency-domain linearized Euler equation solver that is designed to predict the effect of acoustic liners on acoustic modes propagating in realistic sheared and swirling mean flows, guiding the design of more efficient liner configurations. The purpose of this study is to validate Swirl using the Method Of Manufactured Solutions (MMS). This study also investigated the effect of the integration and spatial differencing methods on the convergence for a given Manufactured Solution. In addition, the effect of boundary condition implementation was tested. Through rigorous validation of the Swirl code using the MMS, this research underscores the significance of integration and spatial differencing methods on convergence, evaluates boundary condition implementations, and systematically assesses the impact of various filters.

Code Verification↗

The transmission of sound in nonuniform ducts

The method of weighted residuals in the form of a modified Galerkin method with boundary residuals was developed for the study of the transmission of sound in nonuniform ducts carrying a steady, compressible flow. In this development, the steady flow was modeled as essentially one dimensional but with a kinematic modification to force tangency of the flow at the duct walls. Three forms of the computational scheme were developed using for basis functions (1) the no-flow uniform duct modes, (2) positive running uniform duct modes, with flow, and (3) positive and negative running uniform duct modes, with flow. The formulation using the no-flow modes was the most highly developed, and has advantages primarily due to relative computational simplicity. Results using the three methods are shown to converge to known solutions for several special cases, and the most significant check case is against low frequency, one dimensional results over the complete subsonic Mach number range. Development of the method is continuing, with emphasis on assessing the relative accuracy and efficiency of the three implementations.

Eversman, W.↗

Refraction of acoustic duct waveguide modes by exhaust jets.

The refraction of acoustic duct waveguide modes emitted from the open end of a semiinfinite rectangular duct by a jet-like exhaust flow is studied theoretically. The problem is formulated as a Wiener-Hopf problem and is ultimately solved by an approximate method due to Carrier and Koiter. Continuity of transverse acoustic particle displacement and of acoustic pressure is assumed at the jet/still-air interface. The solution exhibits several features of the acoustics of moving media such as a source convection effect, zones of relative silence, and simple refraction. Plots of far-field directivity patterns are presented for several cases and show refraction effects to be important even at modest exhaust Mach numbers of order 0.3. Only subsonic exhaust Mach numbers are considered.

Mani, R.↗

A study of wave propagation in a duct and mode radiation

In this paper we discuss two problems of classical duct acoustics: (1) wave propagation in infinite ducts with uniform flow based on a graphical approach, and (2) detection of mode radiation from a duct by an external circular microphone array. In (1) we show that the wave number vectors for a given flow Mach number form an ellipse whose center and shape depend on the Mach number only. We construct graphically the upstream and downstream wave number vectors of modes that propagate in the duct. We then show how one can infer from this graphical approach many known results in duct propagation such as the mode cut-off concept, the direction of energy propagation, the angle of the radiation lobe at peak directivity using Rice' s cutoff ratio concept, and other qualitative results. In (2) we give the mathematics behind the experimental detection of mode radiation from a duct by a circular array of microphones whose axis coincides with the engine axis. Since the external microphone array does not introduce additional noise sources inside the engine, as does a rotating rake of microphones positioned at the inlet, this measurement technique may be preferable to use of a rotating rake. The simplicity afforded by the lack of sophisticated rotating parts is an additional advantage over the rotating array.

Farassat, F.↗

Radiation of cylindrical duct acoustic modes with flow mismatch

Motivated by the problem of Mach number and temperature discontinuity mismatch between the tailpipe and the surrounding medium, and the effect of this flow mismatch on aircraft engine noise, the radiation of spinning turbo-acoustic modes from a round duct is investigated. The model, based on a plug flow exhaust jet, solves the convected wave equations using Fourier transforms, inversion being accomplished via a coupled Wiener-Hopf and Carrier-Koiter technique. It is concluded that the Mach number discontinuity results in a conflict between convection and refraction effects, while the temperature mismatch results in a sharp beaming of sound off to the side.

Savkar, S. D.↗

Development of an Experimental Rig for Investigation of Higher Order Modes in Ducts

Continued progress to reduce fan noise emission from high bypass ratio engine ducts in aircraft increasingly relies on accurate description of the sound propagation in the duct. A project has been undertaken at NASA Langley Research Center to investigate the propagation of higher order modes in ducts with flow. This is a two-pronged approach, including development of analytic models (the subject of a separate paper) and installation of a laboratory-quality test rig. The purposes of the rig are to validate the analytical models and to evaluate novel duct acoustic liner concepts, both passive and active. The dimensions of the experimental rig test section scale to between 25% and 50% of the aft bypass ducts of most modern engines. The duct is of rectangular cross section so as to provide flexibility to design and fabricate test duct liner samples. The test section can accommodate flow paths that are straight through or offset from inlet to discharge, the latter design allowing investigation of the effect of curvature on sound propagation and duct liner performance. The maximum air flow rate through the duct is Mach 0.3. Sound in the duct is generated by an array of 16 high-intensity acoustic drivers. The signals to the loudspeaker array are generated by a multi-input/multi-output feedforward control system that has been developed for this project. The sound is sampled by arrays of flush-mounted microphones and a modal decomposition is performed at the frequency of sound generation. The data acquisition system consists of two arrays of flush-mounted microphones, one upstream of the test section and one downstream. The data are used to determine parameters such as the overall insertion loss of the test section treatment as well as the effect of the treatment on a modal basis such as mode scattering. The methodology used for modal decomposition is described, as is a description of the mode generation control system. Data are presented which demonstrate the performance of the controller to generate the desired mode while suppressing all other cut on modes in the duct.

Gerhold, Carl H.↗

Modal density function and number of propagating modes in ducts

The question of the number of propagating modes within a small range of mode cut off ratio was raised. The population density of modes were shown to be greatest near cut off and least for the well propagating modes. It was shown that modes of nearly the same cut off ratio behave nearly the same in a sound absorbing duct as well as in the way they propagate to the far. Handling all of the propagating modes individually, they can be grouped into several cut off ratio ranges. It is important to know the modal density function to estimate acoustic power distribution.

Rice, E. J.↗

The Detection of Radiated Modes from Ducted Fan Engines

The bypass duct of an aircraft engine is a low-pass filter allowing some spinning modes to radiate outside the duct. The knowledge of the radiated modes can help in noise reduction, as well as the diagnosis of noise generation mechanisms inside the duct. We propose a nonintrusive technique using a circular microphone array outside the engine measuring the complex noise spectrum on an arc of a circle. The array is placed at various axial distances from the inlet or the exhaust of the engine. Using a model of noise radiation from the duct, an overdetermined system of linear equations is constructed for the complex amplitudes of the radial modes for a fixed circumferential mode. This system of linear equations is generally singular, indicating that the problem is illposed. Tikhonov regularization is employed to solve this system of equations for the unknown amplitudes of the radiated modes. An application of our mode detection technique using measured acoustic data from a circular microphone array is presented. We show that this technique can reliably detect radiated modes with the possible exception of modes very close to cut-off.

Farassat, F.↗