Self-noise of NACA 0012 and NACA 0021 aerofoils at the onset of stall

Abstract

The aerodynamic noise of a NACA 0012 and NACA 0021 aerofoil is measured and compared in order to determine whether there are differences in their noise signatures with a focus on the onset of stall. Measurements of the self-noise of each aerofoil are measured in an open-jet Anechoic Wind Tunnel at Reynolds numbers of 64,000 and 96,000, at geometric angles of attack from −5° through 40° at a resolution of 1°. Further measurements are taken at Re = 96,000 at geometric angles of attack from −5 through 16° at a resolution of 0.5°. Results show that while the noise generated far into the stall regime is quite similar for both aerofoils the change in noise level at the onset of stall is significantly different between the two aerofoils with the NACA 0021 exhibiting a much sharper increase in noise levels below a chord-based Strouhal number of Stc = 1.1. This behaviour is consistent with the changes in lift of these aerofoils as well as the rate of collapse of the suction peak of a NACA 0012 aerofoil under these flow conditions.