In this article, a high-resolution extension of CLEAN-SC is proposed: high-resolution-CLEAN-SC. Where CLEAN-SC uses peak sources in ‘dirty maps’ to define so-called source components, high-resolution-CLEAN-SC takes advantage of the fact that source components can likewise be derived from points at some distance from the peak, as long as these ‘source markers’ are on the main lobe of the point spread function. This is very useful when sources are closely spaced together, such that their point spread functions interfere. Then, alternative markers can be sought in which the relative influence by point spread functions of other source locations is minimised. For those markers, the source components agree better with the actual sources, which allows for better estimation of their locations and strengths. This article outlines the theory needed to understand this approach and discusses applications to 2D and 3D microphone array simulations with closely spaced sources. An experimental validation was performed with two closely spaced loudspeakers in an anechoic chamber.@en

Phased microphone arrays have become a well-established tool for performing aeroacoustic measurements in wind tunnels (both open-jet and closed-section), flying aircraft, and engine test beds. This paper provides a review of the most well-known and state-of-the-art acoustic imaging methods and recommendations on when to use them. Several exemplary results showing the performance of most methods in aeroacoustic applications are included. This manuscript provides a general introduction to aeroacoustic measurements for non-experienced microphone-array users as well as a broad overview for general aeroacoustic experts.@en

Ducted propellers are an interesting design choice for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) concepts due to a potential increase of the propeller efficiency. In such designs, it is commonly assumed that introducing the duct also results in an overall noise reduction. The objective of this work is to experimentally analyze and quantify noise of a ducted propeller suitable to be installed on a medium size UAV (wingspan 5–10 m). A microphone array is used for recording the noise levels at each microphone position and used collectively to localize noise sources with beamforming. Different types of noise sources are considered (an omni-directional source and a propeller). In addition, the effect of the presence of an incoming airflow is assessed. With no incoming airflow, it is found that the duct significantly modifies the noise radiation both in the frequency and the spatial domain. With an incoming airflow, the effect of the duct on the frequency content of the signal is almost eliminated. The fact that for this case the harmonics become lower results in a reduction of the received noise levels. Also the directivity changes. These insights are of importance in efforts towards modeling the effects of ducts for complex noise sources such as propellers.@en

The recently introduced high-resolution (HR)-CLEAN-SC algorithm for acoustic imaging provides ‘super-resolution’, i.e. the ability to discern sound sources located closer than the Rayleigh resolution limit. This is achieved by allowing the source markers to be relocated from the actual source locations within a certain constraint to avoid the combined influence of the other sound sources. The freedom to relocate the source markers to increase the performance of the algorithm depends on the maximum sidelobe level of the acoustic array used. This paper presents an ‘enhanced’ version of the HR-CLEAN-SC algorithm which benefits from low maximum sidelobe level array design. The source marker constraint μ is adapted to the maximum sidelobe level at each frequency. Application to up to four synthetic sound sources shows that the sources can be resolved at half the frequency associated with the Rayleigh resolution limit, when an acoustic array optimized for low maximum sidelobe level is used in combination with Enhanced HR-CLEAN-SC. This improves source discrimination compared to when the HR-CLEAN-SC algorithm is used with a benchmark acoustic array design. The results are confirmed by experimental validation in which up to four loudspeakers and the same array configurations as in the synthesized data case are used.@en

Advanced propellers promise significant fuel-burn savings compared to turbofans. When installed on the fuselage in a pusher configuration, the propeller interacts with the wake of the supporting pylon. This paper presents an experimental analysis of the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of this pylon–propeller interaction. An isolated propeller was operated in undisturbed flow and in the wake of an upstream pylon at the large low-speed facility of the German–Dutch wind tunnels (DNW-LLF). Measurements of the pylon-wake characteristics showed that the wake width and velocity deficit decreased with increasing thrust due to the suction of the propeller. The installation of the pylon led to a tonal noise penalty of up to 24 dB, resulting from the periodic blade-loading fluctuations caused by the wake encounter. The noise penalty peaked in the upstream direction and became increasingly prominent with decreasing propeller thrust setting, due to the associated reduction of the steady blade loads. The integral propeller performance was not significantly altered by the pylon-wake encounter process. However, at sideslip angles of ±6°, the effective advance ratio of the propeller was modified by the circumferential velocity components induced by the pylon tip vortex. The propeller performance improved when the direction of rotation of the propeller was opposite to that of the pylon tip vortex. Under this condition, a reduction was measured in the noise emissions due to a favorable superposition of the angular-inflow and pylon-wake effects.@en

Most acoustic imaging methods assume the presence of point sound sources and, hence, may fail to correctly estimate the sound emissions of distributed sound sources, such as trailing-edge noise. In this contribution, three integration techniques are suggested to overcome this issue based on models considering a single point source, a line source, and several line sources, respectively. Two simulated benchmark cases featuring distributed sound sources are employed to compare the performance of these integration techniques with respect to other well-known acoustic imaging methods. The considered integration methods provide the best performance in retrieving the source levels and require short computation times. In addition, the negative effects of the presence of unwanted noise sources, such as corner sources in wind-tunnel measurements, can be eliminated. A sensitivity analysis shows that the integration technique based on a line source is robust with respect to the choice of the integration area (shape, position, and mesh fineness). This technique is applied to a trailing-edge-noise experiment in an open-jet wind tunnel featuring a NACA 0018 airfoil. The location and far-field noise emissions of the trailing-edge line source were calculated.@en

Humans localize sound incessantly using the ears and it proves to be important of our awareness. It can also be a cause of annoyance to the community whenever sound is in the form of noise. Due to increase of wealth, industry, technology and corresponding globalization there is a large increase of noise. Especially with the increase of air traffic, noise is increased around the vicinities of airports. While environmental pollution is important and needs to be reduced, the accompanying noise is also of great importance. For example, while propeller-driven aircraft can be more efficient energy-wise, it also results in more noise compared to a traditional turbofan. For potential noise reduction it is necessary to first obtain both correct information about the origin and strength of these noise sources.@en

Assigning proper positions to microphones within arrays is essential in order to reduce or eliminate side- and grating lobes in 2D beamform images. In this paper an objective function is derived providing a measure for the presence of artificial sources. Using the global optimization method Differential Evolution an optimized microphone configuration is obtained by minimization of this objective function. Results show that optimizing the microphone locations can significantly enhance the array performance. In a large part of the scan region surrounding the true source location, no side- or grating lobes are present, meaning that the source can be unambiguously located. From the optimization it is also found that the optimized array configuration shows the microphones distributed at almost constant distance. A linear relation is found which shows that the distance decreases with increasing frequency. This knowledge is important information for the design of an optimal microphone configuration. @en

Beamforming performance can be improved in two ways: optimizing the location of microphones on the acoustic array and applying advanced beamforming algorithms. In this study, the effects of the two approaches are studied. An optimization method is developed to optimize the location of microphones for an acoustic array used in an open-jet anechoic wind tunnel. Then the benefits of using the optimized array with the recently-developed advanced beamforming algorithm, the High-Resolution (HR) CLEAN-SC algorithm are investigated. The microphone locations were optimized to obtain both good resolution and low side lobe levels. By using the optimized array and applying the HR CLEAN-SC algorithm, it was found that two closely-spaced sound sources can be resolved in a broad frequency range below the Rayleigh limit. The findings have also been confirmed through experimental validation.@en

Conventional beamforming is a common method to localize sound sources with a microphone array. The method, which is based on the delay-and-sum beamforming, provides an estimate value for the source strength at a given spatial position. It suffers from low spatial resolution at low frequencies, high side lobe levels and requires the user to initialize a two dimensional scan area at a certain distance from the array which can trouble source identification. In this work we use the global optimization method Differential Evolution to efficiently search for source locations. The source locations maximizes the agreement between the modelled signal and measurement. This method also allows for inclusion of more unknowns, such as environmental parameters or a search in three dimensions. Using simulated data, results show that the acoustic source can be identified very accurately with good spatial resolution. @en

Engine noise shielding is an important measure towards low-noise aircraft configurations. Such designs are supported by prediction tools that indicate high values for shielding of engine noise. Most prediction models approximate the complex nature of engine noise to simple noise sources such as monopoles or dipoles. This work compares predictions of noise shielding with experiments using different noise sources and shielding body geometries. The experiments considered in this work concern a monopole source shielded by a flat plate and a NACA 64-008 A wing, and a propeller shielded by the same wing. Comparisons between models and measurements are made by analysis of noise levels at individual microphones and using conventional beamforming. Results show that for the monopole cases the model predictions are in agreement with the experimental data, with an average deviation of 2-3 dB. The curvature of the leading edge of the wing influences the noise shielding results. The measured values of noise shielding of propeller noise are lower than those measured for the omni-directional source. Different types of source directivity are used to approximate the propeller in the predictions: monopole, dipole and a multi-source. The dipole approximation shows the best agreement with the experiments for the case of the propeller.@en

The shielding of engine noise by the airframe of an aircraft is considered an effective way of reducing noise levels on the ground. Noise shielding in conventional aircraft is mainly due to the presence of the wings and most model predictions of full-scale aircraft neglect the effect of the airfoil curvature. The engine is typically simpliffied as a point source. The objective of such approximations is to reduce the complexity of the model implementation and to decrease the computational time. Measurements of noise shielding of a model wing took place in an anechoic facility using a microphone array. Two noise sources are considered: a point source and a model propeller. These measurements assess differences in noise shielding between using a point source and a source with strong directivity as a propeller. The comparison of experimental data with model predictions ascertain whether the simpliffications commonly used in noise shielding problems are realistic. The noise shielding predictions use a method based on the Kirchhoff integral and the Modiffied Theory of Physical Optics (MTPO). This work aims to understand, using experimental data, possible limitations of noise shielding predictions when adopting typical simpliffications. @en

Conventional beamforming with a microphone array is a well-established method for localizing and quantifying sound sources. It provides estimates for the source strengths on a predefined grid by determining the agreement between the pressures measured and those modeled for a source located at the grid point under consideration. As such, conventional beamforming can be seen as an exhaustive search for those locations that provide a maximum match between measured and modeled pressures. In this contribution, the authors propose to, instead of the exhaustive search, use an efficient global optimization method to search for the source locations that maximize the agreement between model and measurement. Advantages are two-fold. First, the efficient optimization allows for inclusion of more unknowns, such as the source position in three-dimensional or environmental parameters such as the speed of sound. Second, the model for the received pressure field can be readily adapted to reflect, for example, the presence of more sound sources or environmental parameters that affect the received signals. For the work considered, the global optimization method, Differential Evolution, is selected. Results with simulated and experimental data show that sources can be accurately identified, including the distance from the source to the array. @en

Conventional beamforming with a microphone array is a well-established method for localizing and quantifying sound sources. It provides estimates for the source strengths on a predefined grid by determining the agreement between the pressures measured and those modeled for a source located at the grid point under consideration. As such, conventional beamforming can be seen as an exhaustive search for those locations that provide a maximum match between measured and modeled pressures. In this contribution, the authors propose to, instead of the exhaustive search, use an efficient global optimization method to search for the source locations that maximize the agreement between model and measurement. Advantages are two-fold. First, the efficient optimization allows for inclusion of more unknowns, such as the source position in three-dimensional or environmental parameters such as the speed of sound. Second, the model for the received pressure field can be readily adapted to reflect, for example, the presence of more sound sources or environmental parameters that affect the received signals. For the work considered, the global optimization method, Differential Evolution, is selected. Results with simulated and experimental data show that sources can be accurately identified, including the distance from the source to the array. @en