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The paper adapts the delay-and-sum beamforming method and related deconvolution techniques for microphone phased arrays comprising fixed and continuously scanning sensors. Processing of the nonstationary signals introduced by the scanning sensors requires division of all the signals into quasi-stationary blocks and application of a frequency-dependent window within each block. Three distinct approaches are developed: application of delay and sum to each block of the divided signals, followed by assembly of the outputs of the blocks; a cross-spectral matrix completion process; and a partial fields decomposition method. The last two approaches result in a unified cross-spectral matrix that facilitates deconvolution of the array output. The methodologies are applied to a synthetic noise source and to a supersonic underexpanded jet that presented the phenomenon of screech. Introduction of a single scanning sensor to a far-field array comprising 13 fixed sensors significantly improves the fidelity of beamforming. The deconvolved images of the jet noise source resolve fine shock-cell features for which the dimensions are similar to those imaged by optical techniques in past investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of turbulent scales in a Mach 0.9 isothermal round jet are investigated for the purpose of developing linear surface-based models for the noise source that can be informed by a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solution of the flowfield. The jet is calculated by large-eddy simulation (LES), which enables the computation of two-point space-time correlations throughout the jet and its near-acoustic field. Time, length, and convective-velocity scales are examined on the surface of peak Reynolds stress (SPS), representing the location of the most energetic eddies, and on a "radiator surface" at the boundary between the rotational and irrotational fields. The nature of the space-time correlations is different for axial velocity fluctuations and pressure fluctuations. Velocity-based correlations appear to capture localized turbulent events, whereas pressure-based correlations appear dominated by the interaction of large eddies with the surrounding potential flow. The correlation length scales are larger on the radiator surface than on the SPS, thus indicating that small-scale eddies do not make a significant imprint on the radiator surface. The scales associated with an emulated RANS solution of the flow are compared to the LES-based scales. Simple relationships are inferred that may aid the development of rapid predictive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a methodology for the direct estimation of the spatiospectral distribution of an acoustic source from microphone measurements that comprise fixed and continuously scanning sensors. The nonstationarity introduced by the sensor motion is quantified by means of the Wigner-Ville spectrum. Its strongest effect is on the correlations of the sensor signals. Suppression of the nonstationarity in the signal processing involves division of the signals into blocks and application of a frequency-dependent window within each block. The direct estimation approach entails the inversion of an integral that connects the source distribution to the measured coherence of the acoustic field. A Bayesian estimation approach is developed that allows for efficient inversion of the integral and performs similarly to the much costlier conjugate-gradient method. The methodology is applied to acoustic fields emitted by impinging jets approximating a point source and an overexpanded supersonic jet. The measurement setup comprises one continuously scanning microphone and a number of fixed microphones, which are all arranged on a linear array. Comparisons are made between array configurations with fixed microphones only and with the scanning microphone: all having the same sensor count. The noise source maps with the scanning microphone have improved spatial fidelity and suppressed side lobes. The ability of the continuous-scan paradigm to provide high-definition noise source maps with a low sensor count is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study of simultaneous multipoint measurements in the flowfield and acoustic field of a Mach 1.75 cold-air jet is presented. A series of four optical-deflectometer probes measured turbulent fluctuations in or near the jet flow, and eight microphones recorded the far-field pressure in the direction of peak emission. The correlation methodology involves the coherence between the delay-and-sum beamformer outputs of the optical-deflectometer probes and the microphones. This procedure yields results with greater fidelity and higher coherence levels than obtained with individual optical-deflectometer-to-microphone correlations. With the optical-deflectometer probes in the jet shear layer, there is a significant correlation, on the order of 0.1, between the turbulent fluctuations and farfield noise. As the optical-deflectometer probe moves transversely away from the jet, its correlations with the microphone beamformer first drops and then increases. This trend signifies the transition from hydrodynamic to acoustic pressure fields. In the vicinity of the nozzle exit, the peak coherence between the beamformed optical-deflectometer and microphone signals coincides with the physical location of the optical-deflectometer probe. However, as the shear layer thickens downstream, the peak coherence generally lags the probe location, which is a probable result of acoustic refraction by the mean flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The noise source distribution of coaxial jets with a diameter ratio of 1.6 and variable velocity ratio is investigated with a small-aperture microphone phased array. The array design enables differentiation of noise emitted by large-scale and fine-scale turbulence structures, which have different directivities. The acoustic data are complemented by pitot surveys of the mean flow, which yield measurements of the primary and secondary cores of the jet. For zero velocity ratio (single-stream jet), the region near the nozzle emits strong high-frequency noise. Increasing the secondary-to-primary velocity ratio suppresses the near-nozzle noise and extends the location of the peak noise downstream, which increases moderately. The axial location of peak noise is approximately situated at the end of the primary core. The suppression of high-frequency noise is explained by the creation and elongation of the secondary core as the velocity ratio increases. The acoustic trends with velocity ratio are similar for small and large array observation angles from which large-scale and fine-scale turbulence noise, respectively, have been shown to radiate. However, the increase in peak noise is more pronounced for the large-scale noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental investigation examined the potential of pylon-based deployable flaps to reduce jet noise of separate-flow turbofan engines with a bypass ratio of eight. The main function of the flap deflectors is to thicken the low-speed region surrounding the core jet in the downward and sideline directions. The study encompassed acoustic measurements, noise-source imaging, mean-velocity surveys, and aerodynamic estimates. Three types of deflectors were tested: solid flaps, porous flaps made of coarse perforation, and porous flaps made of fine perforation. It is shown that all the deflectors reduce noise sources near the end of the primary potential core. However, the solid flaps create excess noise in the vicinity of their location that can overwhelm this noise benefit, particularly at large polar angles. Porous flaps significantly reduce velocity gradients that cause excess noise. Noise generation from the perforations themselves can be shifted to very high frequency (rapidly attenuated by atmospheric absorption) by reducing the size of the perforation. Accordingly, the fine-perforation flaps provided superior acoustic results yielding effective perceived noise level benefits of 2.1 dB in the downward direction and 1.0 dB in the sideline direction. The static-thrust loss of these flaps is estimated at 0.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for reducing large-scale mixing noise from dual-stream jets is presented. The principle is reduction of the convective Mach number of turbulent eddies that produce intense downward sound radiation. In a jet representing the coaxial exhaust of a turbofan engine, this is achieved by tilting downward, by a few degrees, the bypass (secondary) plume relative to the core (primary) plume. The misalignment of the two flows creates a thick low-speed secondary core on the underside of the high-speed primary flow. The secondary core reduces the convective Mach number of primary eddies, thus hindering their ability to generate sound that travels to the downward acoustic far field. Tilting of the bypass stream is possible by means of fixed or variable vanes installed near the exit of the bypass duct. Subscale aeroacoustic experiments simulated the exhaust flow of a turbofan engine with bypass ratio 6.0. Deflection of the bypass stream resulted in suppression of the peak overall sound pressure level by 4.5 dB and the effective perceived noise level by 2.8 dB. For the nozzle configuration used, the thrust loss is estimated at around 0.5% with the vanes activated and 0.15% with the vanes deactivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which examined the mean flow development in dual-stream compressible jets. Description of the planar shear layer model used; Potential core lengths and sonic lengths; Mass flow rates.

Presents a study which characterized the acoustics of axisymmetric high-speed jets at a variety of Mach numbers and velocities and at pressure-matched, overexpanded, and underexpanded conditions. Components of supersonic jet noise; Noise measurements; Correlations of jet noise with engine operating parameters.

Presents a study which demonstrated directional suppression of noise from a high-speed jet using an asymmetric parallel secondary stream. Methodology; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

Provides information on a study which proposed an empirical model for eddy convection in coaxial supersonic jets. Experimental methods used; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Provides information on a study which measured the noise radiated from perfectly expanded supersonic coaxial jets in an anechoic chamber for operating conditions with the same total mass flow and thrust and with the same temperature ratio. Experimental method used; Numerical results and calculations; Conclusion.

Presents information on a study that investigated the noise measurements for perfectly expanded coaxial jets composed of a supersonic primary stream at conditions designed to prevent formation of Mach waves. Description of the flow apparatus; Global features of the jet; Noise characteristics.

Presents experimental results on a method that eliminates Mach waves from the exhaust of supersonic jets. Removal of supersonic jet noise; Increase of takeoff thrust with minimal impact on overall fuel consumption; Definition of the principle of Mach wave elimination.

Fan flow deflection for jet noise reduction was applied to subscale nozzles simulating the geometry and exhaust conditions of separate-flow turbofan engines. Two types of deflectors were tested, one comprising two pairs of vanes internal to the fan duct and the other consisting of a wedge positioned outside the fan duct. The noise reduction achieved by the vanes was strong in the downward direction and moderate in the sideline direction. The wedge generated significant attenuation in both directions. The acoustic results are consistent with the measured distortion of the mean velocity field. An approach for the treatment of nonaxisymmetric jets vis-à-vis perceived noise prediction is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a joint experimental and computational research effort on the aerodynamics of perforated surfaces inclined to a freestream. The goal is to characterize the key parameters affecting the fiowfield in order to construct a macroscopic computational model that obviates resolution of the detailed perforations. The model simulates the effects of the perforated surfaces by locally applying a body force term in the momentum equation. The study considers wedge-shaped deflectors used for jet noise reduction in turbofan engine nozzles in the form of flaps with varying angles and perforation shapes. The experiments measured the mean velocity field inside and in the wake of the flaps while the numerical analysis comprised direct computations of simplified perforated flaps and computations using the body force model. It is found that the effective porosity of the surface is affected by flow separation within the perforations. The flow blockage of the separation regions is primarily a function of the angle to the freestream and the ratio of the thickness to hole diameter. Accordingly, a formulation for the body force model is proposed that incorporates this finding. The resulting velocity field is in good agreement with the experiments and with the direct computations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a computational study, validated by mean-flow experiments, of a dual-stream nozzle simulating the exit conditions of a supersonic turbofan engine with noise-suppressing fan flow deflectors. The study is conducted for eight nozzle configurations and two operating conditions: a cold condition at which mean velocity surveys were conducted and against which the computational code was validated and a hot condition that corresponds to the takeoff engine cycle and at which acoustic data were collected. The code predictions successfully replicate the mean velocity fields and the inflectional layers of the experimental flows. The code is then extended to the conditions of the actual engine cycle. The computations reveal a similar velocity profile for the hot and cold conditions when the axial distance is normalized by the potential core length. For both conditions, the vane deflectors reduce the turbulent kinetic energy k on the underside of the jet. An overall noise source strength is modeled as the axial integral of k7/2. A significant correlation is found between the reduction in the noise source strength and the reduction in the peak level of the overall sound pressure level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]