Earl R. Booth

A Higher Harmonic Control Test in the DNW to Reduce Impulsive BVI Noise

A model rotor acoustic test was performed to examine the benefit of higher-harmonic control (HHC) of blade pitch to reduce blade-vortex interaction (BVI) impulsive noise. A 40-percent dynamically scaled, four-bladed model of a BO-105 main rotor was tested in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel (DNW). Acoustic measurements were made in a large plane underneath the rotor employing a traversing in-flow microphone array in the anechoic environment of the open test section. Noise characteristics and noise directivity patterns as well as vibratory loads were measured and used to demonstrate the changes when different HHC schedules (different modes, amplitudes, phases) were applied. Dramatic changes of the acoustic signatures and the noise radiation directivity with HHC phase variations were found.

Analysis of a higher harmonic control test to reduce blade vortex interaction noise

A noise study using an aeroelastically scaled BO-105 rotor was conducted in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel to examine the use of higher harmonic control (HHC) of blade pitch to reduce impulsive blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. The noise directivity was measured over a large plane underneath the rotor using a traversing inflow microphone array. Noise and vibration measurements were made for a range of matched rotor operating conditions where prescribed (or open loop) HHC pitch, at various amplitudes and phases, was superimposed on normal (baseline) collective and cyclic trim pitch. Acoustic data are presented for 3, 4, and 5P HHC applied to a typical landing approach rotor operating condition where BVI noise is normally intense. Noise reductions of up to 6 dB were found for the advancing side BVI noise radiating upstream of the rotor, and also for the retreating side BVI noise radiating below and downstream of the rotor. The relative levels between the sides were modified by HHC control phase. To help give insight to the physics of the HHC/BVI noise problem, highresolution loading and noise prediction results are presented for comparison to the data. The predictions are based on a new high-resolution version of the CAMRAD rotor performance program under development at Langley, called HIRES.

Technical Notes: Reduction of Blade-Vortex Interaction Noise Through Higher Harmonic Pitch Control

An acoustics test using an aeroelastically scaled rotor was conducted to examine the effectiveness of higher harmonic blade pitch control for the reduction of impulsive blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. A four-bladed, 110 in. diameter, articulated rotor model was tested in a heavy gas (Freon-12) medium in Langleys Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Noise and vibration measurements were made for a range of matched flight conditions, where prescribed (open-loop) higher harmonic pitch was superimposed on the normal (baseline) collective and cyclic trim pitch. For the inflow-microphone noise measurements, advantage was taken of the reverberance in the hard walled tunnel by using a sound power determination approach. Initial findings from on-line data processing for three of the test microphones are reported for a 4/rev (4P) collective pitch control for a range of input amplitudes and phases. By comparing these results to corresponding baseline (no control) conditions, significant noise reductions (4 to 5 dB) were found for low-speed descent conditions, where helicopter BVI noise is most intense. For other rotor flight conditions, the overall noise was found to increase. All cases show increased vibration levels.

Acoustic Aspects of Active-Twist Rotor Control

The use of an Active Twist Rotor system to provide both vibration reduction and performance enhancement has been explored in recent analytical and experimental studies. Effects of activetwist control on rotor noise, however, had not been determined. During a recent wind tunnel test of an active-twist rotor system, a set of acoustic measurements were obtained to assess the effects of active-twist control on noise produced by the rotor, especially blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. It was found that for rotor operating conditions where BVI noise is dominant, active-twist control provided a reduction in BVI noise level. This BVI noise reduction was almost, but not quite, as large as that obtained in a similar test using HHC. However, vibration levels were usually adversely affected at operating conditions favoring minimum BVI noise. Conversely, operating conditions favoring minimum vibration levels affected BVI noise levels, but not always adversely.