Noise of a model helicopter rotor due to ingestion of isotropic turbulence

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the noise of a model helicopter rotor due to the ingestion of grid-generated, isotropic turbulence is described. Simulated forward flight and vertical ascent tests were performed with a 0·76 m diameter, articulated model rotor in the United Technologies Research Center Acoustic Research Tunnel. Far field noise spectra and directivity were measured in addition to inflow turbulence intensities, length scales and spectra. Measured inflow turbulence statistics and rotor operating parameters were employed in a theoretical procedure to predict turbulence ingestion noise spectra and directivity. This theoretical formulation represented an absolute level prediction method in that empirical or adjustable constants were not employed. From this study it is concluded that incident turbulence represents a potentially important source of rotor narrowband random (quasi-tonal) and broadband noise. With due regard to the absolute level nature of the prediction method, agreement between theory and experiment is reasonable: quasi-tonal noise at low frequency tends to be overpredicted whereas mid-frequency tonal noise and high frequency broadband noise are well predicted. This theory, therefore, provides a means to predict the contribution of turbulence ingestion noise to overall rotor noise spectra and directivity in cases where reasonable estimates of incident turbulence statistics can be made. Ingestion of main rotor wake turbulence by tail rotors in flight and ingestion of atmospheric turbulence by main and tail rotors in hover would be expected to be the most important sources of turbulence ingestion noise in full scale applications.