Noise Generation and Propagation from Advanced Combustors

Project Number: 055
Category: Aircraft Technology Innovation, Noise

High-bypass engine technology has significantly reduced traditionally dominant engine noise sources; namely, fan and jet exhaust noise. The noise generated in the combustor has become a dominant source of engine noise for future advanced aircraft designs. As combustors evolve to increase efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions, methods of predicting and mitigating combustion noise have severely lagged. Legacy methods are insufficient for predicting noise from next-generation combustors. There consequently exists a critical need to develop physics-based design tools that are able to predict noise production mechanisms, the relative significance of noise production mechanisms and ultimately reduce the noise output from future engines. The objective of this program is to develop and validate such physics-based design tools. This objective will be achieved through a program of cooperative experiments, high-fidelity simulations, and physics-based reduced order modeling. 

Outcomes

This program will improve understanding of how combustion noise is generated, develop tools to predict noise levels and guide design decisions, and ultimately enable quieter aircraft engines. This work will result in reduced noise pollution and reduced development time/cost of new engines. Furthermore, the program will support workforce development and training of students in state-of-the-art methods for noise measurement, prediction, and mitigation. 

Last Updated 4/12/2023

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