Acoustic transmission in non-uniform ducts with mean flow,part I: The method of weighted residuals

3n this and a companion paper the problem of transmission of sound through non-uniform ducts carrying a high speed subsonic compressible flow is approached using the method of weighted residuals (MWR) in the form of a modified Galerkin method and the finite element method (FEM). The intent of the investigation is to carry out a careful evaluation of these methods in this computationally difficult problem. To this end both MWR and FEM have been limited to in-core computer implementations to generate useful results with relatively modest computational requirements. This paper (Part I) details the MWR formulation and presents numerical results establishing the degree of accuracy of MWR as compared to exact eigenvalue calculations and approximate one dimensional transmission calculations. The comparison of MWR and FEM results is carried out in the companion paper (Part II).     

A finite element method for transmission in non-uniform ducts without flow: Comparison with the method of weighted residuals

A finite element method is developed for the study of transmission of sound in non-uniform ducts without flow. The formulation is based on a weighted residual approach and eight noded isoparametric elements are used. Two computational schemes are described, one based on the Helmholtz equation obtained by combining the basic conservation equations and one based on the conservation equations themselves. The latter case is considered because in future extensions to problems involving mean flow a single governing equation is not readily obtainable except for irrotational flows. Both two-dimensional and circular duct geometries are considered. Comparisons are made with a Method of Weighted Residuals in the form of a Modified Galerkin Method in the two-dimensional case to assess both accuracy and computational efficiency. It is found that the finite element method produces results for transmission and reflection coefficients nearly identical to those from the Galerkin approach. Used to its best advantage the finite element method is of comparable efficiency.     

Effect of Mean Flow on Acoustic Wave Propagation in a Duct with a Periodic Array of Helmholtz Resonators

Sound propagation properties of a duct system with Helmholtz resonators(HRs) are affected by mean flow.Previous studies have tended to focus on the effects of mean flows on acoustic response of a duct system with a finite number of HRs. Employing an empirical impedance model, we present a modified transfer matrix method for studying the effect of mean flow on the complex band structure of an air duct system with an infinite periodic array of HRs. The efficiency of the modified transfer matrix is demonstrated by comparison between an example of transmission response calculation for a finite single HR loaded duct and the finite element simulation result calculated using the COMSOL software. Numerical results are presented to analyze the effect of mean flow on the band structure and transmission loss of the sound wave in the duct system. It is hoped that this study will provide theoretical guidance for acoustic wave propagation of HR silencer in the presence of mean flow.     

Multiobjective muffler shape optimization with hybrid acoustics modeling

This paper considers the combined use of a hybrid numerical method for the modeling of acoustic mufflers and a genetic algorithm for multiobjective optimization. The hybrid numerical method provides accurate modeling of sound propagation in uniform waveguides with non-uniform obstructions. It is based on coupling a wave based modal solution in the uniform sections of the waveguide to a finite element solution in the non-uniform component. Finite element method provides flexible modeling of complicated geometries, varying material parameters, and boundary conditions, while the wave based solution leads to accurate treatment of non-reflecting boundaries and straightforward computation of the transmission loss (TL) of the muffler. The goal of optimization is to maximize TL at multiple frequency ranges simultaneously by adjusting chosen shape parameters of the muffler. This task is formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem with the objectives depending on the solution of the simulation model. NSGA-II genetic algorithm is used for solving the multiobjective optimization problem. Genetic algorithms can be easily combined with different simulation methods, and they are not sensitive to the smoothness properties of the objective functions. Numerical experiments demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of the model-based optimization method in muffler design.     

Torsional vibrations of non-uniform rotating blades with attachment flexibility

The torsional vibrations of non-uniform pretwisted rotating blades are studied by using finite element methods based on both the Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin formulations. The apparent differences between the matrices obtained from these formulations are explained and, as obtained by using three different orders of elements, results are presented for blades with flexibly attached roots and for a non-uniform blade representative of a bearingless rotor. A parametric study is carried out to resolve a controversy regarding the relative importance of certain terms in the equations of motion of pretwisted rotating blades. In Appendix I, an exact solution is presented for the torsional vibrations of flexibly attached rotating blades with piecewise constant inertia and elastic properties, which serves as a benchmark solution for the finite element results.     

The attenuation of the higher-order cross-section modes in a duct with a thin porous layer

A numerical method for sound propagation of higher-order cross-sectional modes in a duct of arbitrary cross-section and boundary conditions with nonzero, complex acoustic admittance has been considered. This method assumes that the cross-section of the duct is uniform and that the duct is of a considerable length so that the longitudinal modes can be neglected. The problem is reduced to a two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) solution, from which a set of cross-sectional eigen-values and eigen-functions are determined. This result is used to obtain the modal frequencies, velocities and the attenuation coefficients. The 2D FE solution is then extended to three-dimensional via the normal mode decomposition technique. The numerical solution is validated against experimental data for sound propagation in a pipe with inner walls partially covered by coarse sand or granulated rubber. The values of the eigen-frequencies calculated from the proposed numerical model are validated against those predicted by the standard analytical solution for both a circular and rectangular pipe with rigid walls. It is shown that the considered numerical method is useful for predicting the sound pressure distribution, attenuation, and eigen-frequencies in a duct with acoustically nonrigid boundary conditions. The purpose of this work is to pave the way for the development of an efficient inverse problem solution for the remote characterization of the acoustic boundary conditions in natural and artificial waveguides.     

ON TRANSMISSION OF SOUND IN A NON-UNIFORM DUCT CARRYING A SUBSONIC COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

The differential equations governing the transmission of one-dimensional sound waves in a non-uniform duct carrying a subsonic compressible mean flow have been the subject of a recent debate [1, 2]. Of the two formulations presented, one is considered to be non-acoustical and the other as neglecting the spatial variation of the speed of sound. The present paper shows that both formulations are acoustical and represent valid approximations to correct conditions for isentropic sound propagation in a subsonic low Mach number duct. Each formulation is associated with an “error wave”, which is essentially a hydrodynamic wave when the mean flow Mach number is small. Three-port modelling is required, however, to capture this wave when the Mach number of the mean flow is relatively large and a numerical matrizant approach is described which can be used for this purpose.     

等截面消声管道传递损失计算的简化方法

本文提出了等截面消声管道传递损失计算的简化方法，方法利用消声管道截面形式的特点，将三维声学计算问题简化为二维问题，消声管道的传递损失可以表示为与轴向波数有关的表达式，轴向波数可以通过计算截面的特征值得到。对于规则截面结构，使用传递矩阵法计算特征值；复杂非规则截面的特征值使用二维有限元方法得到，进而可以计算消声管道的传递损失。仿真结果与文献中的数值方法及实验值在较宽的频率范围内吻合较好，说明了方法的正确性，此外，该方法可以考虑均匀流对消声管道声学性能的影响。方法的计算效率高，对消声管道的前期优化设计具有实际意义。     

PREDICTION OF NON-CAVITATING UNDERWATER PROPELLER NOISE

Non-cavitation noise of underwater propeller is numerically investigated. The main purpose is to analyze non-cavitation noise in various operating conditions with different configurations. The noise is predicted using time-domain acoustic analogy and boundary element method. The flow field is analyzed with potential-based panel method, and then the time-dependent pressure data are used as the input for Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings formulation to predict the farfield acoustics. Boundary integral equation method is also considered to investigate the effect of ducted propeller. Sound deflection and scattering effect on the duct is considered with the BEM. The governing equations are based on the assumption that all acoustic pressure is linear. A scattering approach is applied in which the acoustic pressure field is split into the known incident component and the unknown scattered component. Noise prediction results are presented for single propeller and ducted propeller in non-uniform flow conditions similar to real situation. The investigation reveals that the effect of a duct on the acoustic performance propeller is small in the far field under non-cavitating situations since the noise directivities of single and ducted propellers are almost the same. Only the high order BPFs are influenced by the existence of the duct.     

Effects of wall admittance changes on duct transmission and radiation of sound

This paper is concerned with the effect of changes in duct wall acoustic properties on the transmission of sound through ducts. Two special problems are considered. The first problem is that of a rectangular infinite-length duct with airflow and a single change in duct wall acoustic admittance. The second problem is that of an axisymmetric field in a finite circular duct without airflow and with an arbitrary number of duct wall acoustic admittance changes. Results for the first problem show the effect of wall admittance change and flow on the acoustic power transmission within the duct. Results for the second problem show the interactive effects of multiple duct liner sections on power radiated from a finite duct.     

Duct effects on the heave stability of plenum air cushions

Linear heave stability boundaries for a fun-duct-plenum air cushion suspension system are presented. These were obtained by using a quasi-static pressure-flow relationship for the fan, a finite element discretization for one dimensional unsteady duct flow, and a lumped capacitance model for the plenum. They indicate that even relatively short ducts can have a major effect at practical flow rates on the stability of cushion systems typically used for amphibious and overland operations. Some results obtained from a non-linear analysis, in which the method of characteristics was used for the duct flow, suggest that the linear approach should be adequate for practical stability calculations. Comparisons with lumped parameter models indicate that here the duct effect is associated primarily with the inertance of the air in the duct. It is also shown that for some operating conditions the duct-plenum system behaves as an Helmholtz resonator. Good agreement is obtained with an earlier transmission line analysis based on the wave equation.     

流管实验装置中声传播计算的模态方法

流管实验装置是测量有流动情况下航空发动机消声短舱内声衬声阻抗的主要装置。本文发展了一种解析的模态匹配方法进行在平均流有声衬条件下矩形流管中声传播的计算。用同伦方法求解特征值问题,并与用环绕积分求解的结果进行比较。声场通过轴向阻抗间断面的声压和声质点速度积分相等计算。第一个算例是无流动、硬壁、有限长、考虑端口反射的情况,并与北航流管实验台测量数据进行了对比;第二个算例为有流动情况下有限长声衬管道不考虑端口反射的声场计算,它与文献中NASA流管实验结果和CAA计算结果符合得很好。     

Simulations of whistling and the whistling potentiality of an in-duct orifice with linear aeroacoustics

This paper demonstrates a linear aeroacoustic simulation methodology to predict the whistling of an orifice plate in a flow duct. The methodology is based on a linearized Navier–Stokes solver in the frequency domain with the mean flow field taken from a Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solution. The whistling potentiality is investigated via an acoustic energy balance for the in-duct element and good agreement with experimental data is shown. A Nyquist stability criterion based on the simulation data was applied to predict whistling of the orifice when placed in a finite sized duct and experiments were carried out to validate the predictions. The results indicate that although whistling is a nonlinear phenomena caused by an acoustic-flow instability feed-back loop, the linearized Navier–Stokes equations can be used to predict both whistling potentiality and a duct system's ability to whistle or not.     

Influence of mean flow profile and geometrical ratios on scattering of sound at a sudden area expansion in a duct

The scattering of sound at a sudden area expansion in a duct with subsonic mean flow has been modelled with a multimodal method. Technological applications are for instance internal combustion engine exhaust silencers and silencers in industrial duct systems. Both 2D rectangular and 2D cylindrical geometries are considered.The influence of the mean flow profile, and the—in this method—associated application of an acoustic Kutta condition at the edge of the area discontinuity, is investigated. The scattering coefficients for the plane waves are found to change smoothly as the flow profile is changed gradually from one, where the acoustic Kutta condition is applied to one where it is not applied. Furthermore, for high Strouhal numbers no difference is observed in the results for the scattering coefficients obtained for different flow profiles. Also, at low Strouhal numbers the magnitudes of the scattering coefficients are the same for different profiles.The influence of the ratio of the heights (in 2D rectangular geometry), respectively, radii (in 2D cylindrical geometry), of the ducts upstream and downstream of the area expansion on the scattering coefficients is examined. Around a certain Strouhal number, a specific feature in the scattering coefficients is observed when the ratio of the duct heights or radii is less than 0.5. This is found to be connected to a strong interaction between the first evanescent acoustic mode and the hydrodynamic instability mode. For non-uniform flow even an apparent jump between the first evanescent acoustic mode and the hydrodynamic unstable mode and a corresponding jump in scattering coefficients is observed, when employing causality analysis according to the Briggs-Bers or Crighton-Leppington procedure. This implies that in fact an absolute instability occurs.     

Comparison of measured broadband noise attenuation spectra from circular flow ducts and from lined engine intakes with predictions

Sound propagation in lined circular ducts is investigated in the presence of uniform and sheared flow. The modal solutions are obtained by solving an eigenvalue equation which, in the case of sheared flow, is derived by using finite differences and by matching the pressure and the radial component of the particle velocity at the interface of the regions of uniform and sheared flow. For the uniform flow region, standard Bessel function solutions are used. The attenuation of acoustic energy at a given frequency and for a given liner length is computed on the assumption that at the inlet to the lined duct, the acoustic energy is equally distributed among the propagating modes. The total number of propagating modes is determined from the hard wall “cut off” condition. The failure to find some of the modal solutions on the attenuation computed in this way is discussed. It is shown that the reliability of this method of computing liner attenuation depends on the ability to successfully compute most of the modal solutions over a large range of frequencies, flow conditions and duct wall impedance values. A numerical technique is developed which uses a fraction of the total number of solutions to compute the total attenuations without appreciable loss of accuracy. Measured attenuation spectra from a flow duct facility and from lined intake ducts of the RB.211 engine are compared with predictions. In general very good agreement between predictions and measurements is obtained.     

A displacement-pressure finite element formulation for analyzing the sound transmission in ducted shear flows with finite poroelastic lining

In the present work, the propagation of sound in a lined duct containing sheared mean flow is studied. Walls of the duct are acoustically treated with absorbent poroelastic foams. The propagation of elasto-acoustic waves in the liner is described by Biot's model. In the fluid domain, the propagation of sound in a sheared mean flow is governed by the Galbrun's equation. The problem is solved using a mixed displacement-pressure finite element formulation in both domains. A 3D implementation of the model has been performed and is illustrated on axisymmetric examples. Convergence and accuracy of the numerical model are shown for the particular case of the modal propagation in a infinite duct containing a uniform flow. Practical examples concerning the sound attenuation through dissipative silencers are discussed. In particular, effects of the refraction effects in the shear layer as well as the mounting conditions of the foam on the transmission loss are shown. The presence of a perforate screen at the air-porous interface is also considered and included in the model.     

Radiation of cylindrical duct acoustic modes with flow mismatch

An analysis is presented for the radiation of spinning acoustic modes from a round duct. The model, based on a plug flow exhaust jet, allows for a flow temperature and velocity mismatch. Solutions to the convected wave equations within and outside the jet are devised, the continuity of acoustic pressure and particle displacement match at the jet interface being used. Formal solution is obtained by applying Fourier transforms, inversion being accomplished by using the Wiener-Hopf technique coupled with the Carrier-Koiter approximations. The analysis also is extended formally to include the inlet problem, but with a plug type inlet flow.The calculations suggest that the influence of the Mach number discontinuity is to offer a conflict between the effects of convection and refraction, the former becoming increasingly more significant at high subsonic Mach numbers by the presence of a strong lobe in the shadow zone. Effects of flight conditions are to weaken such conflicts so that in the limit of uniform Mach number, one recovers Carrier's well-known solution.The effect of a temperature mismatch is rather more dramatic, resulting in a sharp beaming of sound off to the side. This is consistent with the kinematic picture of a plane wave impinging on a temperature discontinuity.     

Dynamic and acoustic response of bidirectionally stiffened plates with eccentric stiffeners subject to airborne and structure-borne excitations

An analytical method based on the modal expansion technique was developed to predict the vibro-acoustic response of both unidirectionally and bidirectionally stiffened flat panel. This paper presents the response to diffuse acoustic field (DAF) and turbulent boundary layer (TBL) excitations in terms of their joint acceptance. Numerical results for the dynamic and acoustic responses are compared with finite element method (FEM) and boundary element (BEM) results for stiffened panel with complex and eccentrically shaped stiffeners subject to point force excitation. A theoretical prediction of the transmission loss (TL) is also compared with laboratory measurements conducted on flat panels representing aircraft models as well as with hybrid statistical energy analysis (SEA)-FEM periodic model. The results confirm that the stiffened panel has the same acoustic response as the skin without stiffeners at frequencies where the structural wavelengths are equal to the spacing between the stiffeners. In addition, the transmission loss is lowered by the presence of the stiffeners at some particular region of frequencies below the critical frequency with respect to the unstiffened panel.     

Scattering of sound by an elastic plate with flow

An elastic plate, set in an infinite baffle and immersed in a fluid moving with a uniform subsonic velocity, is excited by an acoustic source. The scattered sound field is analyzed when fluid-plate coupling is large, and a solution is found by the use of matched asymptotic expansions. The far field is found to approximate to the solution obtained when the elastic plate is absent. At a plate resonance, however, the outer field must include eigensolutions with singularities at the plate edges, and close to the plate the dominant terms are travelling plate waves. These plate waves are found to have a wavelength independent of the frequency of the source. It is also shown that a plate resonance corresponds to a divergence instability of aerodynamic flutter theory and that the stability results found in this paper are in agreement with those obtained by using modal expansions. The limit as the Mach number goes to zero is found to be singular, suggesting an analysis of the model for small flow velocity. This calculation is performed and the results match smoothly to the respective solutions for a stationary fluid and for a large subsonic flow.