Search Results

The turbulent boundary layer (TBL) that forms on the outside of a commercial airplane in flight is a significant source of noise. During cruise, the TBL can be the dominant source of noise. Because it is a significant contributor to the interior noise, it is desirable to predict the noise due to the TBL. One modeling approach for the acoustic prediction is statistical energy analysis (SEA). This technique has been adopted by North American commercial airplane manufacturers. The flow over the airplane is so complex that a fully resolved pressure field required for noise predictions is not currently analytically or numerically tractable. The current practice is to idealize the flows as regional and use empirical models for the pressure distribution. Even at this level of idealization, modelers do not agree on appropriate models for the pressure distributions. A description of the wall pressure is insufficient to predict the structural response. A structural model is also required.

The turbulent boundary layer (TBL) that forms on the outer skin of the aircraft in flight is a significant source of interior noise. However, the existing quiet test facilities capable of measuring the TBL wall pressure fluctuations tend to be at low Mach numbers. The objective of this study was to develop a new inlet for an existing six inch square (or 6×6) flow duct that would be adequately free from facility noise to study the TBL wall pressure fluctuations at higher, subsonic Mach numbers. First, the existing flow duct setup was used to measure the TBL wall pressure fluctuations. Then the modified inlet was successfully used to make similar measurements up to Mach number of 0.6. These measurements will be used in the future to validate wall pressure spectrum models for interior noise analysis programs such as statistical energy analysis (SEA) and dynamic energy analysis (DEA).

Previously part of a larger OEM, Spirit AeroSystems became a standalone company 5 years ago and is currently a Tier One supplier of aerostructures. Products include fuselage components, wing structures, engine struts and nacelles, and at the request of various OEMs, fully stuffed fuselages and podded engines where all of the wiring, heating, duct work, etc. is installed prior to delivery. While operating as part of the Propulsion Structures and Systems Business Unit, the design, testing and analysis services provided by the acoustics lab potentially impact all programs at all stages of development because of increasing noise regulations and material certification requirements for implementation in high noise environments.

Turbulent boundary layers are a significant source of vibration and noise for vehicles moving through a fluid medium. Describing the forcing function for this noise source is an active area of research. Empirical models are commonly used in system noise models. Two common models as discussed by Mellen [1, 2] are separable and non-separable models. The separable models are in a class generally known as Corcos models [3]. The separable models postulate that the wall pressure space time statistics are a function of time times a function of downstream separation times a function of cross stream separation. The non-separable models postulate that the space time statistics are a function of time times a function of space with the downstream and cross stream separation being coupled. Two examples of the non-separable models are Chase [4, 5] and Smol'yakov-Tkachenko [6].

Dynamic interactions of pairs of co-rotating vortex filaments, typical of those emanating from wing tips and flap tips are studied. Time history of the motion of individual filaments has been obtained in a water tunnel using an optical method. It is demonstrated that before their merger, co-rotating vortex filaments tend to oscillate along preferred directions. Also, the motion appears to be unstable with increasing amplitude over a wide range of frequencies. These conclusions are shown to be consistent with analytical predictions. It is also shown that the merger location correlates well with the vortex strength. Comparisons with analytical and computational results are provided where appropriate.