Simulations of the scattering of sound waves at a sudden area expansion

The scattering of acoustic plane waves at a sudden area expansion in a flow duct is simulated using the linearized Navier–Stokes equations. The aim is to validate the numerical methodology for the flow duct area expansion, and to investigate the influence of the downstream mean flow on the acoustic scattering properties. A comparison of results from numerical simulations, analytical theory and experiments is presented. It is shown that the results for the acoustic scattering obtained by the different methods gives excellent agreement. For the end correction, the numerical approach is found superior to the analytical model at frequencies where coupling of acoustic and hydrodynamic waves is significant. A study with two additional flow profiles, representing a non-expanding jet with an infinitely thin shear layer, and an immediate expansion, shows that a realistic jet is needed to accurately capture the acoustic–hydrodynamic interaction. A study with several different artificial jet expansions concluded that the acoustic scattering is not significantly dependent on the mean flow profile below the area expansion. The constructed flow profiles give reasonable results although the reflection and transmission coefficients are underestimated, and this deviation seems to be rather independent of frequency for the parameter regime studied. The prediction of the end correction for the constructed mean flow profiles deviates significantly from that for the realistic profile in a Strouhal number regime representing strong coupling between acoustic and hydrodynamic waves. It is concluded that the constructed flow profiles lack the ability to predict the loss of energy to hydrodynamic waves, and that this effect increases with increasing Mach number.     

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.     

Reflection of sound at area expansions in a flow duct

An analytical model for scattering at area discontinuities and sharp edges in flow ducts and pipes is presented. The application we have in mind is large industrial duct systems, where sound attenuation by reactive and absorptive baffle silencers is of great importance. Such devices commonly have a rectangular cross-section, so the model is chosen as two-dimensional. Earlier solutions to this problem are reviewed in the paper. The modelling of the flow conditions downstream of the area expansion, with and without extended edges, and its implications for the resulting acoustic modes are discussed. Here, the scattering problem is solved with the Wiener-Hopf technique, and a Kutta condition is applied at the edge. The solution of the wave equation downstream of the expansion includes hydrodynamic waves, of which one is a growing wave. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data for the reflection coefficient for the plane wave, at frequencies below the cut-on for higher order modes. Influence of the interaction between the sound field and the flow field is discussed. A region where the reflection coefficient is strongly Strouhal number dependent is found.     

Experimental examination of vortex-sound generation in an organ pipe: A proposal of jet vortex-layer formation model

Aero-dynamical models of sound generation in an organ pipe driven by a thin jet are investigated through an experimental examination of the vortex-sound theory. An important measurement requirement (acoustic cross-flow as an irrotational potential flow reciprocating sinusoidally) from the vortex-sound theory is carefully realized when the pipe is driven with low blowing pressures of about 60 Pa (jet velocities of about 10 m/s). Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is applied to measure the jet velocity and the acoustic cross-flow velocity over the mouth area at the same phase by quickly switching the jet drive and the loudspeaker-horn drive. The vorticity of the jet flow field and the associated acoustic generation term are evaluated from the measurement data. It is recognized that the model of the “jet vortex-layer formation” is more relevant to the sound production than the vortex-shedding model. The acoustic power is dominantly generated by the flow–acoustic interaction near the edge, where the acoustic cross-flow velocity takes larger magnitudes. The acoustic generation formula on the vortex sound cannot deny the conventional acoustical volume-flow model because of the in-phase relation satisfied between the acoustic pressure at the mouth and the acoustic volume flow into the pipe. The vortex layers formed along both sides of the jet act as the source of an accelerating force (through the “acceleration unbalance”) with periodically alternating direction to oscillate the jet flow and to reinforce the acoustic cross-flow at the pipe mouth.     

Experimental study of whistle noise generated by insert edge and oil separator model of refrigeration cycle

The compressed air experiments are conducted to investigate the whistle noise radiated from the oil separator component of refrigerant cycle system. Two types of insert edge and a height-adjustable oil separator model are adopted. The acoustic characteristic of flow through plain top insert edge is more likely to be broadband. Flow through ramp top insert edge would induce whistle peaks at Mach number higher than 0.1197 and the oil separator model works like an acoustic amplifier. Moreover, the Strouhal number jumps are captured inside oil separator model and two mechanisms are presented to clarify the phenomena. First, the whistle noise at Modes A1, A3, B1 and B3 is regarded as coupling of shear layer instability with resonance acoustic modes of oil separator model. Second, the whistle noise at Modes A2 and B2 is regarded to be the feedback loop of flow-acoustic interaction in fluctuated shear layer and defined as jet-cavity interaction tones.     

Combustion dynamics of inverted conical flames

An inverted conical flame anchored on a central bluff-body in an unconfined burner configuration features a distinctive acoustic response. This configuration typifies more complex situations in which the thermo-acoustic instability is driven by the interaction of a flame with a convective vorticity mode. The axisymmetric geometry investigated in this article features a shear region between the reactive jet and the surrounding atmosphere. It exhibits self-sustained oscillations for certain operating conditions involving a powerful flame collapse phenomenon with sudden annihilation of flame surface area. This is caused by a strong interaction between the flame and vortices created in the outer jet shear layer, a process which determines the amplitude of heat release fluctuation and its time delay with respect to incident velocity perturbations. This process also generates an acoustic field that excites the burner and synchronizes the vortex shedding mechanism. The transfer functions between the velocity signal at the burner outlet and heat release are obtained experimentally for a set of flow velocities fluctuations levels. It is found that heat release fluctuations are a strong function of the incoming velocity perturbation amplitude and that the time delay between these two quantities is mainly determined by the convection of the large scale vortices formed in the jet shear layer. A model is formulated, which suitably describes the observed instabilities.     

Active control of coaxial jet mixing with manipulation of primary vortical structures by arrayed micro flap actuators

Active mixing control of a methane/air isothermal coaxial jet was achieved using micro magnetic flap actuators arranged on the inner surface of the outer annular nozzle. The spatio-temporal evolution of vortical structures and the scalar mixing were studied through the particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence methods. In contrast to studies on jet control using acoustic forcing, the mechanical movement of the flap directly generated large-scale intense vortices. The mixing was enhanced significantly by the vortices formed in the inner shear layer, although the control input was given to the outer shear layer. It was found that the primary vortex rings dominated the near-field mixing, while streamwise vortices were responsible for the downstream mixing. It was also demonstrated that the radial range of the inner fuel transportation could be manipulated flexibly by adjusting the shedding interval of the vortices. Especially, the mixing was enhanced most significantly when the primary vortices were most densely populated near the nozzle exit at the control Strouhal number of unity.     

A study in the developing region of square jet

The developing region of a turbulent square jet is investigated using high-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV). The mean velocity and turbulence stresses are presented in various horizontal planes, along the jet centerline covering the initial region of the jet as well as the transition to the self-similar region. To study the flow structure away from the central plane, velocity measurements in two additional horizontal planes, one located halfway from the jet central plane toward the edge and the other at the edge of the square jet, are also examined. Analysis of the instantaneous velocity fields reveal the presence of an arrow-like feature in the square jet due to the higher instability generated in the jet shear layer compared with a round jet. To elucidate the imprints of the vortex structures present in the jets, a swirling strength-based vortex identification methodology is applied on a large ensemble of instantaneous velocity fields. Statistical analysis of the number of vortex cores, and their size and rotational strength in the measurement plane is undertaken. Vortex population at the edge was found to be very different compared with that in the central plane.     

The acoustic impedance of perforated plates under various flow conditions relating to combustion chamber liners

The absorption of sound by cavities lined with perforated sheets depends crucially on the impedance of the orifices in the sheets. Although the theory for that absorption in the absence of a mean flow was well-developed in 1926, the presence of either a ‘bias’ flow through the orifices, or of a flow ‘grazing’ the sheet and deflecting the acoustic jets, radically alters the absorption. There are many theoretical and experimental treatments of the various cases, some of which are reviewed here. However, there has been little attempt to show how these data relate to one another, and this is also undertaken. The frequency dependence of the impedance is here expressed in terms of a Helmholtz number and used as the prime parameter for comparison. Theories for the cases where the mean flow is negligible are naturally based on the viscous penetration depth, whereas those for bias flow have a Strouhal number as the main parameter and are independent of viscosity. It is found that there are major uncertainties in the impedance for higher Strouhal numbers, when the bias flow is small. A criterion for transition to the no-bias flow theory is proposed. Theories and correlations for grazing flow rationally feature a Strouhal number based on the friction velocity in the duct, since this determines the boundary layer characteristics, but there should be a smooth transition to the case where the grazing flow can be considered negligible. Criteria for this are also proposed, based on the available experimental data. When both types of flow are present, particularly when the grazing velocity is larger than the bias velocity, the available data are very limited.     

Experiments on effective source locations and velocity dependence of the broad band noise from a rotating rod

Effective acoustic source positions (observed from the far field) have been located for the broad band noise from a cylindrical rod rotated about its mid-point by measuring the cross spectral density function of two microphone signals on the axis of rotation. Local source position Strouhal numbers could thereby be calculated. On the basis of acoustic power measurements it was demonstrated that the noise may be normalized on a rod tip Strouhal number basis, and that the velocity exponent is nearly constant when plotted against this parameter. The results indicate that vortex shedding like that for stationary cylinders in a cross flow (occurring along the outer $\text{1}\text{3}$ of the rod for a rotational speed of 1000 rpm) is responsible for the high levels of broad band noise in a major peak region. Sources influenced by harmonics of the rod passing frequency were found for frequencies lower than the vortex shedding ones. At higher frequencies broad band noise was found to be emitted from the rod tip area.     

The displacement-thickness theory of trailing edge noise

The problem of estimating the sound generated by turbulent boundary layer flow over the edge of a rigid half-plane is re-examined. A theory is proposed which is strictly valid at low Strouhal numbers based on boundary layer width, wherein the flow inhomogeneities are specified in terms of the fluctuations in the boundary layer displacement thickness. This enables account to be taken of changes in the properties of the turbulence as it translates past the edge, which are shown to result in the appearance of an acoustic dipole whose axis is aligned with the mean flow, and which supplements the radiation field predicted by conventional methods [1,2]. Detailed comparison is made with acoustic and surface pressures which are calculated according to the evanescent wave theory of edge noise [3–5].     

Numerical study of reacting flow characteristics of a 2D twin cavity trapped vortex combustor

In the present work, reacting flow characteristics of a 2D trapped vortex combustor (TVC) have been investigated numerically. Turbulent flow prevailing in the combustor is modelled using the two equation shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model and the turbulence–chemistry interactions are modelled using the eddy dissipation concept (EDC) model. Validation study reveals that the data generated by numerical model for reacting flow cases matches reasonably well with the experimental data. Simulation results indicate that for a particular operating condition, the flow structure within the cavity for reacting flow cases is significantly different from non-reacting flow cases. Besides this, under reacting flow condition, the vortex core location shifts with variation in operating condition. This study also reveals significant differences in the velocity gradient at the shear layer between reacting and non-reacting flow conditions. Furthermore, the turbulent kinetic energy at the cavity zone increases for the reacting flow condition, which is attributed to the volume expansion associated with the combustion processes. Also, temperature contours at locations downstream of the trailing edge indicate that both cavity flames are merged together for higher primary air velocity cases, and this is essential for efficient performance of TVC.     

Sound generated by a vortex convected past an elastic sheet

We study the motion and sound generated when a line vortex is convected in a uniform low-Mach flow parallel to a thin elastic sheet. The linearized sheet motion is analyzed under conditions where the unforced sheet (in the absence of the line vortex) is stationary. The vortex passage above the sheet excites a resonance mode of motion, where the sheet oscillates at its least stable eigenmode. The sources of sound in the acoustic problem include the sheet velocity and fluid vorticity. It is shown that the release of trailing-edge vortices, resulting from the satisfaction of the Kutta condition, has two opposite effects on sound radiation: while trailing-edge vortices act to reduce the pressure fluctuations occurring owing to the direct interaction of the line vortex with the unperturbed sheet, they extend and amplify the acoustic signal produced by the motion of the sheet. The sheet motion radiates higher sound levels as the system approaches its critical conditions for instability, where the effect of resonance becomes more pronounced. It is argued that the present theory describes the essential mechanism by which sound is generated as a turbulent eddy is convected in a mean flow past a thin elastic airfoil.     

水下涡流场前向声散射特性分析

研究水下涡声散射特性,在目标探测和流场声成像领域具有重要意义。针对水下低马赫数涡流场前向声散射建立了数值计算方法,探究了其形态函数和指向性。首先,基于摄动声学理论给出了考虑流声耦合作用的涡声散射模型,采用时域有限差分结合完美匹配层构建了数值求解方法;随后,在算法验证的基础上,预报分析了高斯涡涡核尺寸在1~10 m,同时入射平面波无量纲波数在1~10范围内,涡流场强度对前向声散射特性的影响。结果表明,低马赫数下,声散射场具有对称性,且有明显的主瓣和指向性。其前向散射形态函数随入射波波数、涡核尺寸、涡流场强度增加而增大;主瓣方位角随波数增加而趋近入射波传播方向。      

Quasi-steady model of the acoustic scattering properties of a T-junction

T-junctions are common elements in flow duct networks. It is shown that for low Strouhal numbers, based on the duct diameter, their acoustic scattering properties can be described using an incompressible quasi-steady model. Models are derived for systems subjected to combinations of grazing and bias mean flow, and are shown to work in both the limiting cases—that is, grazing or bias flow alone—as well as for the joining or dividing flow configurations. The upper Strouhal number for which the quasi-steady models are applicable is limited by flow-acoustic interaction effects, which differ significantly between the different flow configurations. Generally the models are applicable up to Strouhal numbers of approximately 0.1-0.2, which is comparable with previous published models for other configurations such as bends and orifices. This range is sufficient to make the model useful in many important engineering applications.     

Experimental investigation on laminar separation control for flow over a two-dimensional bump

The laminar boundary layer separation flow over a two-dimensional bump controlled by synthetic jets is experimentally investigated in a water channel with hydrogen-bubble visualisation and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques. The two-dimensional synthetic jet is applied near the separation point. Two Reynolds numbers (Re = 700 and 1120) based on the bump height and free-stream velocity are adopted in this experiment, and seven different excitation frequencies at each Reynolds number are considered, focusing on the separation control as well as the vortex dynamics. The experimental results show that the optimal control can only be achieved within some excitation frequencies at both Reynolds numbers. However, beyond this range, further increasing the excitation frequency leads to an increase in the separation region. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) technique and vortex identification by swirling strength (Λ_ci) are applied for the deeper analysis of the separated flow. The reconstructed Λ_ci field by the first four POD modes is used and vortex lock-on phenomenon is observed. It is found that the negative synthetic jet vortex with clockwise rotation draws the separated wake shear layer as it is convected downstream, and then they syncretise together. Thus, the new vortex is induced and shedding downstream periodically.     

Stereoscopic PIV measurements of a screeching supersonic jet

The effect of acoustic feed back on global flow response is illustrated through an example of a rectangular screeching jet operating at a nominal Mach number of 1.69. Using a stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry, the detailed flow characteristics within a screeching cycle are obtained with fidelity. To resolve the “bias” errors inherent with standard PIV image processing technique, a novel mesh-free and high spatial resolution scheme is implemented to yield accurate velocity measurements in a complex three-dimensional supersonic flow. The axis-switching phenomenon that arises due to unusual mixing enhancement in the minor axis plane of a rectangular jet is vividly displayed. Strong streamwise vortex structure in the jet shear layers, enhanced by the inherent instability of the shear layer, is reported.     

Characterization of acoustic disturbances in linearly sheared flows

The equation describing the plane wave propagation, the stability, or the rectangular duct mode characteristics in a compressible inviscid linearly sheared parallel, but otherwise homogeneous, flow, is shown to be reducible to Whittaker's equation. The resulting solutions, which are real, viewed as functions of two variables, depend on a parameter and an argument the values of which have precise physical meanings depending on the problem. The exact solutions in terms of Whittaker functions are used to obtain a number of known results of plane wave propagation and stability in linearly sheared flows as limiting cases in which the speed of sound goes to infinity (incompressible limit) or the shear layer thickness, or wave number, goes to zero (vortex sheet limit). The usefulness of the exact solutions is then discussed in connection with the problems of plane wave propagation and stability of a finite thickness shear layer with a linear velocity profile. With respect to the plane wave propagation it is shown that, unlike the compressible vortex sheet, the shear layer possesses no resonances and no Brewster angles, whereas with respect to the stability problem it is shown that, again unlike the compressible vortex sheet, the thin layer is unstable to long wavelength disturbances for all Mach numbers. These results imply that the reflection and stability characteristics of a non-zero thickness but thin shear layer (i.e., the long wavelength characteristics) do not go over smoothly into the results of the compressible vortex sheet as the wave number approaches zero, except for a limited range of generally subsonic relative flow of the two parallel streams bounding the shear layer.     

On the role of glottis-interior sources in the production of voiced sound

The voice source is dominated by aeroacoustic sources downstream of the glottis. In this paper an investigation is made of the contribution to voiced speech of secondary sources within the glottis. The acoustic waveform is ultimately determined by the volume velocity of air at the glottis, which is controlled by vocal fold vibration, pressure forcing from the lungs, and unsteady backreactions from the sound and from the supraglottal air jet. The theory of aerodynamic sound is applied to study the influence on the fine details of the acoustic waveform of "potential flow" added-mass-type glottal sources, glottis friction, and vorticity either in the glottis-wall boundary layer or in the portion of the free jet shear layer within the glottis. These sources govern predominantly the high frequency content of the sound when the glottis is near closure. A detailed analysis performed for a canonical, cylindrical glottis of rectangular cross section indicates that glottis-interior boundary/shear layer vortex sources and the surface frictional source are of comparable importance; the influence of the potential flow source is about an order of magnitude smaller.