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At least 19 records

Prediction of light aircraft interior noise

At the present time, predictions of aircraft interior noise depend heavily on empirical correction factors derived from previous flight measurements. However, to design for acceptable interior noise levels and to optimize acoustic treatments, analytical techniques which do not depend on empirical data are needed. This paper describes a computerized interior noise prediction method for light aircraft. An existing analytical program (developed for commercial jets by Cockburn and Jolly in 1968) forms the basis of some modal analysis work which is described. The accuracy of this modal analysis technique for predicting low-frequency coupled acoustic-structural natural frequencies is discussed along with trends indicating the effects of varying parameters such as fuselage length and diameter, structural stiffness, and interior acoustic absorption.

Howlett, J. T.↗

Core noise source diagnostics on a turbofan engine using correlation and coherence techniques

Fluctuating pressure measurements at several locations within the core of a turbofan engine were made simultaneously with far-field acoustic measurements. Correlation and coherence techniques were used to determine the relative amplitude and phase relationships between core pressures at these various locations and between the core pressures and far-field acoustic pressure. The results indicate that the combustor is a low-frequency source region for acoustic propagation through the core nozzle and out to the far-field. Specifically, it was found that the relation between source pressure and the resulting sound pressure involves a 180 deg phase shift and an amplitude transfer function which varies approximately as frequency squared. This is shown to be consistent with a simplified model using fluctuating entropy as a source term.

Karchmer, A.↗

Prediction of light aircraft interior noise

A computerized interior noise prediction method for light aircraft is described. An existing analytical program, development for commercial jets, forms the basis of some modal analysis work which is described. The accuracy of this modal analysis technique for predicting low-frequency coupled acoustic-structural natural frequencies is discussed along with trends indicating the effects of varying parameters such as fuselage length and diameter, structural stiffness, and interior acoustic absorption.

Howlett, J. T.↗

Aerodynamic and acoustic performance of ejectors for engine-under-the-wing concepts

Subsonic thrust augmentation, exhaust plume velocity contours and acoustic characteristics of a small-scale, 6-tube mixer nozzle with ejector were obtained with and without a wing. Thrust augmentation up to 30 percent was achieved. Aerodynamic results showed that at a given location, greater downstream velocities are obtained with an ejector than with the baseline nozzle. Ejectors reduce high frequency noise; however, low-frequency noise amplification also occurs. Acoustic reflections off the wing increase the noise level to a ground observer. With an ejector, the acoustic benefits of forward velocity may be significantly reduced compared with the baseline nozzle.

Von Glahn, U.↗

Seismic and acoustic emissions of a booming dune

Acoustic and seismic spectra of booming sand dunes that emit low-frequency musical resonances when the dunes slump or undergo forced shearing are analyzed and described. Previous studies of booming, squeaking, screeching, and roaring sands with pure outputs resembling those of musical instruments, or more turbulent acoustic outputs such as the sound of low-flying propeller aircraft, are reviewed. The possibility of similar phenomena on the moon (thermal moonquakes) or nearby planets (Mars, Venus) is considered on the basis of planetary topography, soil mechanics, and atmosphere.

Criswell, D. R.↗

Forward velocity effects on jet noise with dominant internal noise source

Acoustic data, with and without forward velocity, were obtained with a circular nozzle using a quiet flow system and one dominated by a low-frequency internal noise source (analogous to combustion noise). Forward velocity effects were obtained by installing the test nozzle in a free jet. Far-field noise data were obtained at jet pressure ratios from 1.3 to 1.7 and forward velocities up to 260 ft/sec. With a quiet flow system, jet noise is reduced by forward velocity. With a dominant low-frequency core noise source, the portion of the noise spectra dominated by this source was not appreciably affected by forward velocity.

Von Glahn, U.↗

Comparison of the acoustic characteristics of large-scale models of several propulsive-lift concepts

Wind-tunnel acoustic investigations were performed to determine the acoustic characteristics and the effect of forward speed on the over-the-wing externally blown jet flap (OTW), the under-the-wing externally blown jet flap (UTW), the internally blown jet flap (IBF), and the augmentor wing (AW). The data presented represent the basic noise generated by the powered-lift system without acoustic treatment, assuming all other noise sources, such as the turbofan compressor noise, have been suppressed. Under these conditions, when scaled to a 100,000-lb aircraft, the OTW concept exhibited the lowest perceived noise levels, because of dominant low-frequency noise and wing shielding of the high-frequency noise. The AW was the loudest configuration, because of dominant high-frequency noise created by the high jet velocities and small nozzle dimensions. All four configurations emitted noise 10 to 15 PNdB higher than the noise goal of 95 PNdB at 500 ft.

Falarski, M. D.↗

Use of finite element techniques in the determination of the acoustic properties of turbofan inlets

This paper describes the application of the finite-element method in combination with Galerkin's method in the determination of the acoustic properties of turbofan inlets containing high-subsonic-Mach-number flows. An approximate solution to the steady inviscid flow field is obtained using an integral method for calculating the potential flow field in the inlet with a correction to account for compressibility effects. The accuracy of the finite-element technique in predicting the acoustic properties of annular ducts has been checked by comparison with available analytical solutions for the problems of planeand spinning-wave propagation through a hard-walled annular duct with a constant mean flow. Results are presented comparing low-frequency plane-wave propagation through a hard-walled turbofan inlet containing a one-dimensional flow with the same inlet containing a fully two-dimensional axisymmetric mean flow. It is shown that when one-dimensional mean flow is assumed to exist in the duct, the plane wave propagates with relatively little distortion. However, propagation of a plane wave through the fully two-dimensional flow field in the inlet produces severe distortion due to the excitation of higher-order modes.

Sigman, R. K.↗

Correlation microphone for measuring airframe noise in large-scale wind tunnels

A correlation microphone arrangement was used in the test section of the Ames 7- by 10-Foot and 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnels in an attempt to reject the reverberant and wind noise. The tests in the 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel covered a frequency range from 400 Hz to 8 kHz while the tests in the 40- by 80-foot tunnel covered the range from 31.5 to 800 Hz. Examination of the experimental data plus calculations of cross-correlations due to reflective noise indicate that the correlation microphone is effective in rejecting microphone wind noise and reverberant noise even at low frequencies, and that the low-frequency background noise monitored by the correlation microphone is reflected noise with a preferred direction from the tunnel drive system. Design studies indicate that this tunnel drive noise can be reduced substantially through suitable modification of the drive fans and acoustical treatment of the nacelles that house these fans.

Ahtye, W. F.↗

Near-Field and Far-Field Noise Measurements for a Blowdown-Wind-Tunnel Supersonic Exhaust Jet having about 475,000 Pounds of Thrust

Near-field and far-field noise surveys were made of the supersonic The exhaust jet of the Langley 9- by 6-foot thermal structures tunnel. The jet had a thrust rating of approximately 475,000 pounds. The sound power radiated was found to be about 3.6 x 10(exp 6) watts, and on an acoustical-mechanical efficiency basis this value is in reasonable agreement with data for smaller supersonic jets and for rocket engines of other investigations. Octave-band analyses of the near-field noise show that the maximum sound pressure levels in the low-frequency bands are greatest downstream, whereas maximum sound pressure levels in the high-frequency bands were greatest near the jet exit. A comparison of near-field noise measurements is made with data previously obtained for rocket engines. Noise survey measurements of the original jet are compared with similar data obtained after the addition of a 97-foot-long exit diffuser section, and an example of the application of this facility to the problem of acoustic environmental testing of a large space capsule is cited.

Mayes, William H.↗

Measurement, analysis, and prediction of aircraft interior noise

Considerations of comfort of passengers and crew in light aircraft and helicopters indicate substantial benefits may be obtained by the reduction of interior noise levels. This paper discusses an ongoing research effort to reduce interior noise in such vehicles. Data from both field and laboratory studies for a light aircraft are presented. The laboratory data indicate that structural vibration is an efficient source of interior noise and should be considered in the reduction of interior noise. Flight data taken on a helicopter before and after installation of acoustic treatment demonstrate that over 30 dB of noise reduction can be obtained in certain portions of the spectra. However, subjective evaluations of the treated vehicle indicate that further reductions in interior noise are desirable. An existing interior noise prediction method which was developed for large jet transports was applied to study low-frequency noise in a light aircraft fuselage. The results indicate that improvements in the analytical model may be necessary for the prediction of interior noise of light aircraft.

Howlett, J. T.↗

Investigation of Noise Field and Velocity Profiles of an Afterburning Engine

Sound pressure levels, frequency spectrum, and jet velocity profiles are presented for an engine-afterburner combination at various values of afterburner fuel - air ratio. At the high fuel-air ratios, severe low-frequency resonance was encountered which represented more than half the total energy in the sound spectrum. At similar thrust conditions, lower sound pressure levels were obtained from a current fighter air craft with a different afterburner configuration. The lower sound pressure levels are attributed to resonance-free afterburner operation and thereby indicate the importance of acoustic considerations in afterburner design.

North, Warren J.↗

Cold-flow acoustic evaluation of a small scale, divergent, lobed nozzle for supersonic jet noise suppression

A supersonic jet noise suppressor was tested with cold flow for acoustic and thrust characteristics at nozzle- to atmospheric-pressure ratios of 1.5 to 4.0. Jet noise suppression and spectral characteristics of the divergent, lobed, suppressor (DLS) nozzle with and without an ejector are presented. Suppression was obtained at nozzle pressure ratios of 2.5 to 4.0. The largest, maximum-lobe, sound pressure level suppression with a hard-wall ejector was 14.6 decibels at a nozzle pressure ratio of 3.5. The thrust loss was 2 percent. In general, low-frequency jet noise was suppressed, leaving higher frequencies essentially unchanged. Without the ejector the nozzle showed a thrust loss of 11 percent together with slightly poorer noise suppression.

Huff, R. G.↗

Radiation resistance of a rectangular panel.

The radiation resistance corresponding to the natural modes of a finite rectangular panel is theoretically determined from the total energy radiated to the farfield. The panel is assumed to be simply supported in an infinite baffle. Asymptotic solutions for the low-frequency region are derived, and curves covering the entire frequency range for various mode shapes and aspect ratios are obtained through numerical integration. When the ratio of the acoustic wavenumber to the panel wavenumber is a constant much less than unity, the radiation resistance for all modes is a minimum if the intranodal area (the area between adjacent node lines) is square, and increases with the aspect ratio of the intranodal area.

Wallace, C. E.↗

Full-scale experiments with an ejector to reduce jet engine exhaust noise

Experiments with a modified J65 turbojet engine and ejector resulted in noise power reductions as large as 13 decibels in the low-frequency range. High-frequency noise power, which appeared to originate mainly from the mixing processes within the ejector, increased. Peak velocities at the ejector exit were reduced by one-half to two-thirds, although survey rakes showed that mixing was not complete. Acoustical lining inside the ejector would reduce the perceived noise level (in PNdB) by removing much of the high-frequency noise.

Clark, B. J.↗

Propagation of plane waves in flow through a variable area duct

Duct geometry is an important factor that influences the transmission of sound in a duct. Nonconstant area produces variations in steady flow quantities through the duct, which can cause reflections of acoustic disturbances and the creation of standing wave patterns, and which can attenuate and disperse propagating waves. To study the problem, a second-order-accurate numerical method has been developed. The method of characteristics is used to solve the acoustic equations with the assumption of quasi-one-dimensional flow in the duct. Numerical results are presented over a broad range of frequencies. Low-frequency results are compared with approximate solutions for compact nozzles and high-frequency calculations are compared with results from the short-wave theory. The numerical results are also compared with an analytical solution of the acoustic equations for exponential horn sections with zero mean flow to further establish the validity of the numerical method.

King, L. S.↗

Acoustic characteristics of a large upper-surface blown configuration with turbofan engines

This paper presents acoustic results from static and simulated low forward velocity tests of a large-scale model of an aircraft configuration with two turbofan engines in the full-scale tunnel at the Langley Research Center. The turbofan engines were integrated into the model and equipped with rectangular nozzles to provide the upper-surface blowing. Results indicate that the upper-surface-blowing noise problem can be characterized, primarily, by the unsymmetrical radiation pattern due mainly to shielding of the high-frequency engine noise and the production of low-frequency noise by jet-surface interaction. The directivity of the low-frequency noise was found to depend on the trailing-edge flap angle when the thrust levels were low. Normalized sound pressure level spectral density data showed good agreement at low Strouhal number with other small- and large-scale model data from tests using simulated wing-flap systems. Forward speed effects were undetectable at the low tunnel speeds used during the tests.

Preisser, J. S.↗

Correlation of internal surface turbulence with far-field noise of the augmentor wing propulsive-lift concept

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the nature, strength, and variation with airspeed of the acoustic sources of the augmentor wing propulsive-lift concept. The augmentor wing overall noise is dominated by the high frequency jet mixing noise characteristic of the lobed primary nozzle. The augmentor modifies the intensity and propagation characteristics of the jet sources, especially those that exist inside the augmentor. The interaction of the turbulent flow with the augmentor creates low-frequency, low-intensity surface noise and trailing edge noise. These sources dominate any jet mixing noise that is present at the low frequencies and could become significant if the jet noise was suppressed by treating the augmentor with a lining tuned to the jet noise source location. The far-field noise of the untreated augmentor is unaffected by airspeed; however, this may not be the case when the jet noise is suppressed, because the trailing edge surface pressure and correlations with far-field noise do show a reduction with forward speed.

Falarski, M. D.↗