On Rotor Noise Optimization for Urban Air Mobility

06/04/2022

This master thesis project presents an optimization study of the noise produced by rotors in the con- text of Urban Air Mobility. The importance of this study is based on the expected growth of Urban Air Mobility in larger cities across the globe and on the consequent effort to decrease the noise emitted by this type of aircraft. Provided that rotors constitute a major part of the noise produced by this aviation segment and given the fact that the aircraft are intended to be fully electric, the design of these components is of paramount importance for noise minimization. For the simulation accomplished within the optimization process, an open-source aerodynamic and aeroacoustic code (FLOWUnsteady, or FLight, Optimization, and Wind Unsteady) was integrated within an optimization module created specifically for the current thesis. These tools were based on the Formulation 1A of Farassat (PSU-WOPWOP) and the Brooks, Pope and Marcolini airfoil noise model (FLOWNoise), being utilized for the prediction of the tonal and atonal noise, respectively. The simulation code is applied to predict rotor noise which is posteriorly reduced by the means of an optimization algorithm, leading to the proposed optimal rotor design, with a reduction of 16,21% of the Energy Averaged Overall Sound Pressure Level (EAOSPL) having been achieved.

Autores da comunidade :

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  O

  Olívia Raquel Leite Pinto

  ist186671

Orientadores desta instituição:

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  F

  Frederico Afonso

  ist156309

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  F

  Fernando José Parracho Lau

  ist13198

mechanical-engineering - Engenharia Mecânica

eng - Inglês

Instituto Superior Técnico