Abstract

The acoustic emissions from supersonic jets represent an area of significant research needs; not only in the field of aero-acoustics, but in industry as well where high pressure let down processes have been known to cause acoustically induced vibrations. A common method to reduce the acoustic emissions of such processes involves dividing the single larger supersonic flow into several smaller ones. Though this is common practice, there is not yet a current model which describes the reduction of acoustic emissions from an array of smaller supersonic jets. Current research which studies supersonic jet arrays are mainly focused on the effects of screech. Though screech is important, due to its high amplitude acoustic pressure, this research focuses on the overall acoustic emissions radiated from supersonic jet arrays which can cause severe acoustic loadings. This research investigated the acoustic emissions and shock formations from several eight by eight arrays of axisymmetric jet experimentally. The array nozzle diameters investigated ranged from 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch and the spacing over diameter ratio ranged from 1.44 to 3. The net pressure ratios investigated ranged from 2 to 24. Results revealed a strong correlation between the acoustic emissions and the shock formations of the flow. Up until a critical net pressure ratio, the overall sound pressure levels were comparable to that of a single jet within an array. At net pressure ratios beyond the critical the overall sound pressure levels transitioned to higher decibel levels; equivalent to a single jet with an equivalent exit area of an entire array. Also, the characteristic acoustic frequency emitted from a nozzle array remained ultrasonic (above 20 kHz) at lower net pressure ratios and then shifted to audible levels (between 20 Hz to 20 kHz) at net pressure ratios beyond the critical. Also, before the critical net pressure ratio the shock cells from the jets within the array remained unmerged, but at net pressure ratios beyond the critical the shock cells merged and formed lattices of weak oblique shocks at first and then strong oblique shocks as the net pressure ratio continued to increase. The critical net pressure ratio was investigated by non-dimensional analysis. The non-dimensional analysis revealed that the critical net pressure ratio was a strong linear function of the spacing over diameter ratio. A linear model was derived which is able to predict the critical net pressure ratio, and in turn, predict a critical shift in the acoustic emissions of a nozzle array.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2012-02-02

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd4986

Keywords

acoustic emissions, supersonic, net pressure ratio, diameter, spacing over diameter ratio, overall sound pressure levels, frequency, characteristic, Strouhal number, acoustic pressure over the dynamic pressure ratio

Language

English

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