Aeroacoustic-structural interactions of a multi multi-panel airfoil configuration for tonal noise reduction

Abstract

In this paper, a multi-panel airfoil configuration ( is designed to achieve airfoil tonal noise reduction over a wide range of angle of attack ( AoA ) at a Reynolds number of 50000 and a Mach number of 0.4. The aeroacoustic-structural interactions of the designed airfoil are explored using reduced order modelling (ROM). The range of operational AoA for the present study is chosen from 1° to 7° to analyze the tonal component of airfoil noise. The design methodology of the multi-panel airfoil is based on the preliminary analysis of the rigid airfoil to ascertain the optimum panel locations and their structural properties. Subsequently, an airfoil configuration based on three resonant elastic panels with different structural properties is designed and its noise reduction potential is assessed at varying AoAs. ROM analysis shows a non-linear response in the noise reduction characteristics for the airfoil ranging from 6.75 dB to 7.92 dB over the complete range of AoA. The structural analysis shows a complex vibration pattern for all the panels which clearly indicates the presence of complex structural interaction among the panels for MPC airfoil at varying AoA.