Multiscale Considerations for Sound Generation in Low Mach Number Flows

Classical approaches in aeroacoustics are mainly based on analytical solutions of the linear wave equations which are valid in the far field. The sound generation is approximated by source terms obtained from a flow simulation. This procedure designated as the ‘acoustic analogy’ was initiated in the classical work of Lighthill. In order to tackle the sound generation problem at low Mach numbers, we consider a multiple scale asymptotic analysis. As we deal with a fluid flow generating the sound itself, the asymptotic ansatz uses one time scale given by the flow convection, but two space scales due to the difference in fluid and sound velocity. The insight given by this analysis is used to obtain source terms describing the sound generation and perturbation equations for the sound propagation. Numerical results are shown for the example of a co‐rotating vortex pair.