Computation of the self-noise of a controlled-diffusion airfoil based on the acoustic analogy

Abstract

The self-noise of a controlled-diffusion airfoil is computed with several numerical techniques based on the acoustic analogy and involving different degrees of approximation. The flow solution is obtained through an incompressible large eddy simulation. The acoustic field as described by Lighthill’s analogy is computed with a finite element method applied to the exact airfoil geometry, and this solution is compared with results based on a half-plane Green’s function. This problem behaves as a classical trailing-edge noise problem for a wide range of frequencies; however, other mechanisms of sound production become significant at high frequencies. The results highlight the relative strengths and weaknesses of quadrupole- and dipole-based formulations of the acoustic analogy based on incompressible Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results when applied to wall-bounded turbulent flows.