High-frequency jet nozzle actuators for noise reduction

Christopher L. Davis; Frederick T. Calkins; George W. Butler

doi:10.1117/12.483872

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14 August 2003 High-frequency jet nozzle actuators for noise reduction

Christopher L. Davis, Frederick T. Calkins, George W. Butler

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Proceedings Volume 5054, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.483872
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Rules governing airport noise levels are becoming more restrictive and will soon affect the operation of commercial air traffic. Sound produced by jet engine exhaust, particularly during takeoff, is a major contributor to the community noise problem. The noise spectrum is broadband in character and is produced by turbulent mixing of primary, secondary, and ambient streams of the jet engine exhaust. As a potential approach to controlling the noise levels, piezoelectric bimorph actuators have been tailored to enhance the mixing of a single jet with its quiescent environment. The actuators are located at the edge of the nozzle and protrude into the exhaust stream. Several actuator configurations were considered to target two excitation frequencies, 250 Hz and 900 Hz, closely coupled to the naturally unstable frequencies of the mixing process. The piezoelectric actuators were constructed of 10 mil thick d₃₁ poled wafer PZT-5A material bonded to either 10 or 20 mil thick spring steel substrates. Linear analytical beam models and NASTRAN finite element models were used to predict and assess the dynamic performance of the actuators. Experimental mechanical and electrical performance measurements were used to validate the models. A 3 inch diameter nozzle was fitted with actuators and tested in the Boeing Quiet Air Facility with the jet velocity varied from 50 to 1000 ft/s. Performance was evaluated using near-field and far-field acoustic data, flow visualization, and actuator health data. The overall sound pressure level produced from the 3 inch diameter jet illustrates the effect of both static and active actuators.

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Christopher L. Davis, Frederick T. Calkins, and George W. Butler "High-frequency jet nozzle actuators for noise reduction", Proc. SPIE 5054, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, (14 August 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.483872

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