The Influence of the Exit Velocity Profile on the Noise of a Jet

Abstract

SummaryThe noise levels of a jet issuing from a long pipe are compared with those of a jet having a square velocity profile at the exit. A subsonic noise reduction of between 2 and 5 decibels for various conditions is found for the case of the flow emerging with an approximately “turbulent pipe-flow” velocity profile for the same maximum jet velocity, but this is at the expense of a loss in thrust of a quarter. On comparison with a jet of smaller diameter which has an equal thrust for the same maximum jet velocity, it is found that the changes in noise level are rather smaller. For jets of equal diameters, the effects on the subsonic aerodynamic noise generated of a reduction of velocity gradient near the boundary are more than offset by the increased velocities necessary near the centre of the jet to obtain equal thrust. It is concluded that if the effect of differences in initial turbulence can be neglected the use of an auxiliary flow forming a comparatively thin sheath of slower moving fluid at the exit is not likely to result in large decreases in the subsonic noise level, and that a general reduction in jet velocity is more effective.Above the critical pressure larger reductions of up to 10 decibels are found. These are consistent with a delay of the onset of the self-maintained shock-produced noise.