The radiation of sound from a propeller at angle of attack

Abstract

The mechanism by which the noise generated at the blade passing frequency by a propeller is altered when the propeller axis is at an angle of attack to the freestream is examined herein. The measured noise field is distinctly non-axially symmetric under such conditions with far field sound pressure levels both diminished and increased relative to the axially symmetric values produced with the propeller at zero angle of attack. Attempts have been made to explain this non-axially symmetric sound field based on the unsteady (‘once per revolution’) loading experienced by the propeller blades when the propeller axis is at non-zero angle of attack. A calculation based on this notion appears to greatly underestimate the measured azimuthal asymmetry of noise for high-tip-speed, highly loaded propellers. A new mechanism is proposed herein; namely, that at angle of attack, there is a non-axially symmetric modulation of the radiative efficiency of the steady loading and thickness noise, which is the primary cause of the non-axially symmetric sound field at angle of attack for high-tip-speed, heavily loaded propellers with a large number of blades. A calculation of this effect to first order in the cross-flow Mach number (component of freestream Mach number normal to the propeller axis) is carried out and shows much better agreement with measured noise data on the angle of attack effect.