M. Snellen
Please Note
46 records found
1
Noise Prediction of the Flying V Aircraft
A Semi-empirical Approach
Results show that engine noise dominates over airframe noise for the FV-1000 during both departure and approach. Reductions in both engine and airframe noise are observed compared with the A350-1000. Overall, the FV-1000 achieves flyover noise reductions of approximately 3.3 EPNdB during departure and 3.5 EPNdB during approach. Engine shielding provides up to approximately 15 dB of attenuation for forward-emitting noise around the inboard wing, with higher frequencies experiencing greater attenuation due to reduced diffraction. Minimal shielding occurs below and behind the aircraft, resulting in a distinct V-shaped noise attenuation pattern on the ground. ...
Results show that engine noise dominates over airframe noise for the FV-1000 during both departure and approach. Reductions in both engine and airframe noise are observed compared with the A350-1000. Overall, the FV-1000 achieves flyover noise reductions of approximately 3.3 EPNdB during departure and 3.5 EPNdB during approach. Engine shielding provides up to approximately 15 dB of attenuation for forward-emitting noise around the inboard wing, with higher frequencies experiencing greater attenuation due to reduced diffraction. Minimal shielding occurs below and behind the aircraft, resulting in a distinct V-shaped noise attenuation pattern on the ground.
This thesis develops a framework to evaluate broadband noise prediction models for (electrically driven) propellers in hover and forward flight. Two model are assessed: the classical Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) model and the data-driven Gill and Lee (GL) model. Both are verified against literature and validated and compared using scaled hover experiments and full-scale flyover measurements.
Results show that the GL model performs well in hover but overpredicts noise in forward flight. The BPM model provides more consistent predictions across operating conditions. ...
This thesis develops a framework to evaluate broadband noise prediction models for (electrically driven) propellers in hover and forward flight. Two model are assessed: the classical Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) model and the data-driven Gill and Lee (GL) model. Both are verified against literature and validated and compared using scaled hover experiments and full-scale flyover measurements.
Results show that the GL model performs well in hover but overpredicts noise in forward flight. The BPM model provides more consistent predictions across operating conditions.
Thrust and weight estimation for Doc. 29 noise models
Using ACMS data to more accurately predict noise levels at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
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The objective of this thesis is therefore to develop processing methods for microphone phased array data to localise and identify drones over an extended duration. Acoustic sensors are chosen as they are not yet investigated extensively, however they offer advantages such as their passive behavior, low cost and low weight. This dissertation shows a comparison between three acoustic localisation techniques: conventional frequency domain beamforming, differential evolution and sparse Bayesian learning. Furthermore, the challenge of localising multiple sound sources simultaneously, including different drones, is addressed. Lastly, the identification of the localised sound sources is discussed, where machine learning techniques are tested on their performance to correctly identify drones and other ambient sound sources. ...
The objective of this thesis is therefore to develop processing methods for microphone phased array data to localise and identify drones over an extended duration. Acoustic sensors are chosen as they are not yet investigated extensively, however they offer advantages such as their passive behavior, low cost and low weight. This dissertation shows a comparison between three acoustic localisation techniques: conventional frequency domain beamforming, differential evolution and sparse Bayesian learning. Furthermore, the challenge of localising multiple sound sources simultaneously, including different drones, is addressed. Lastly, the identification of the localised sound sources is discussed, where machine learning techniques are tested on their performance to correctly identify drones and other ambient sound sources.
Multi-frequency Acoustic Mapping of Marine Benthos
Data-driven Multibeam Classification in the Dutch North Sea
Nevertheless, MBES-based benthic habitat mapping remains challenging. Limited seabed ground truth hinders model construction and evaluation. Lack of absolute calibration poses challenges when comparing or combining MBES backscatter across surveys. Backscatter angular dependency and large volume of multi-frequency measurements further complicate data processing. This thesis addresses these challenges by exploiting the multi-spectral MBES, making optimal use of limited ground truth, and improving the MBES data processing workflow.... ...
Nevertheless, MBES-based benthic habitat mapping remains challenging. Limited seabed ground truth hinders model construction and evaluation. Lack of absolute calibration poses challenges when comparing or combining MBES backscatter across surveys. Backscatter angular dependency and large volume of multi-frequency measurements further complicate data processing. This thesis addresses these challenges by exploiting the multi-spectral MBES, making optimal use of limited ground truth, and improving the MBES data processing workflow....
Measurement-driven aircraft noise modelling
To validate and improve best-practice noise predictions
Best-practice noise models use Noise-Power-Distance (NPD) tables, which provide noise levels as a function of engine power (thrust) and distance between aircraft and observer. Additional correction factors allow predictions under non-standard conditions. While computationally efficient, these methods rely on simplifying assumptions about aircraft operations, source noise characteristics, and propagation effects.
The first step of this research is to identify the challenges and limitations of current noise predictions and measurements. A comparison between annual noise metrics (Lden and Lnight) from Doc 29 and NOMOS data reveals noteworthy trends: Doc 29 generally underestimates Lden, but overestimates Lnight. Background noise and undetected flights were quantified and found to predominantly affect low-noise regions at greater distances from flight paths. This analysis also highlights the strong dependence of model accuracy on the correctness of aircraft performance input parameters.
To address this, a second research stage develops a method for accurately determining engine thrust for historic flights. Using either acoustically derived N1 values obtained from blade-passing frequencies or directly from onboard flight data, estimates of delivered thrust are reconstructed. Since Doc 29 requires corrected net thrust as input, conversion methods were evaluated. Simulations using the Gas turbine Simulation Program (GSP) provided the most accurate results. Based on these simulations, coefficients were derived and validated to reliably estimate thrust from N1 for use in standard best-practice formulas. Using this improved input, a validation study showed strong agreement between modelled and measured Sound Exposure Level (SEL) and LA,max, though residual discrepancies remained.
To investigate the limitations of the NPD tables, back-propagated measurements were used to derive thrust-noise relations. Results indicate that for departures, the existing NPD tables overestimate the thrust-noise dependency. New NPD tables were therefore constructed directly from measurements, fully independent of the existing database. Applying these calibrated NPD tables improved departure noise prediction accuracy by approximately 25%, independently verified with measurements from Oslo Airport.
This thesis also assessed the use of standardised source spectra to calculate weather-dependent corrections. Due to the simplified atmospheric assumptions, the absorption of sound during propagation is limitedly affected by the source spectra. The use of these source spectra is thus sufficient for this purpose.
A final step is to benchmark the Doc 29 model to an independent empirical model, sonAIR. With more complex noise source modelling and propagation algorithms, sonAIR showed improvement compared to the measurements, specifically at lower elevation angles and in low-noise regions.
Overall, this thesis contributes to the validation and improvement of best-practice aircraft noise models through detailed analysis of noise measurements around Schiphol Airport. While Doc 29 performs well for estimating average noise exposure, its simplified assumptions about source noise and propagation limit its ability to represent the full complexity of aircraft noise. The improvements developed in this research contribute toward more reliable and transparent noise assessments. ...
Best-practice noise models use Noise-Power-Distance (NPD) tables, which provide noise levels as a function of engine power (thrust) and distance between aircraft and observer. Additional correction factors allow predictions under non-standard conditions. While computationally efficient, these methods rely on simplifying assumptions about aircraft operations, source noise characteristics, and propagation effects.
The first step of this research is to identify the challenges and limitations of current noise predictions and measurements. A comparison between annual noise metrics (Lden and Lnight) from Doc 29 and NOMOS data reveals noteworthy trends: Doc 29 generally underestimates Lden, but overestimates Lnight. Background noise and undetected flights were quantified and found to predominantly affect low-noise regions at greater distances from flight paths. This analysis also highlights the strong dependence of model accuracy on the correctness of aircraft performance input parameters.
To address this, a second research stage develops a method for accurately determining engine thrust for historic flights. Using either acoustically derived N1 values obtained from blade-passing frequencies or directly from onboard flight data, estimates of delivered thrust are reconstructed. Since Doc 29 requires corrected net thrust as input, conversion methods were evaluated. Simulations using the Gas turbine Simulation Program (GSP) provided the most accurate results. Based on these simulations, coefficients were derived and validated to reliably estimate thrust from N1 for use in standard best-practice formulas. Using this improved input, a validation study showed strong agreement between modelled and measured Sound Exposure Level (SEL) and LA,max, though residual discrepancies remained.
To investigate the limitations of the NPD tables, back-propagated measurements were used to derive thrust-noise relations. Results indicate that for departures, the existing NPD tables overestimate the thrust-noise dependency. New NPD tables were therefore constructed directly from measurements, fully independent of the existing database. Applying these calibrated NPD tables improved departure noise prediction accuracy by approximately 25%, independently verified with measurements from Oslo Airport.
This thesis also assessed the use of standardised source spectra to calculate weather-dependent corrections. Due to the simplified atmospheric assumptions, the absorption of sound during propagation is limitedly affected by the source spectra. The use of these source spectra is thus sufficient for this purpose.
A final step is to benchmark the Doc 29 model to an independent empirical model, sonAIR. With more complex noise source modelling and propagation algorithms, sonAIR showed improvement compared to the measurements, specifically at lower elevation angles and in low-noise regions.
Overall, this thesis contributes to the validation and improvement of best-practice aircraft noise models through detailed analysis of noise measurements around Schiphol Airport. While Doc 29 performs well for estimating average noise exposure, its simplified assumptions about source noise and propagation limit its ability to represent the full complexity of aircraft noise. The improvements developed in this research contribute toward more reliable and transparent noise assessments.
Aeroacoustic testing in acoustically disturbed environments
Improvements to closed test section wind tunnel experiments
The investigation of wall cavities for microphone placement was done with Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, which in turn were validated experimentally. Cavities covered with a mesh cover were investigated, since previous literature shows that these reduce hydrodynamic noise while allowing for the transmission of waves to the microphones. The numerical simulations show that covering microphone cavities with a mesh cover results in a stagnant flow inside the cavities. As consequence, the only source of pressure fluctuations at the cavity bottoms are acoustic waves. The hydrodynamic pressure fluctuations from the wall’s boundary layer still propagate acoustically to the cavity bottoms. The findings show that increasing cavity size, by increasing the cavity opening diameter with respect to the length of the eddies in the turbulent boundary layer, leads to a lower propagation of spurious pressure fluctuations to the cavity bottoms. This in turn leads to an increased signal to noise ratio of acoustic measurements recorded at closed test section wind tunnels.
Wind tunnel wall liners have been characterized based on their viscous resistivity, inertial resistivity and roughness. Several porous liners have been tested experimentally. The aim was to analyze their impact on the aerodynamic properties of the wind tunnel boundary layer, on the generation of spurious noise, and on the absorption of acoustic reflections. The results show that the ideal choice of liner consists of a liner: with high viscous resistivity, which leads to high acoustic absorption; with low roughness, to reduce the impact on the wind tunnel wall’s boundary layer; and with low inertial resistivity, to reduce the generation of spurious noise. The best lining material tested was melamine foam.
The acoustic propagation and acoustic interference in a closed wind tunnel test section were predicted with a FEM acoustic solver. The propagation was modelled on a baseline test section, with fully reflective walls, and on test sections with lined walls. The numerical results were found to give a very accurate prediction of the acoustic experimental tests. It was possible to use the numerical results to improve the post—processing of experimental data. The Green’s function used to process experimental microphone data with beamforming was corrected, using the numerical results. Beamforming with the Green’s function corrected for the acoustically disturbed environment led to a higher beamforming spatial resolution. In addition, the estimated noise levels are more accurate when the correction is used. This improved approach was shown to work for post—processing experimental measurements of a monopole sound source placed at the center of the test section, with and without free—stream flow.
...
The investigation of wall cavities for microphone placement was done with Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, which in turn were validated experimentally. Cavities covered with a mesh cover were investigated, since previous literature shows that these reduce hydrodynamic noise while allowing for the transmission of waves to the microphones. The numerical simulations show that covering microphone cavities with a mesh cover results in a stagnant flow inside the cavities. As consequence, the only source of pressure fluctuations at the cavity bottoms are acoustic waves. The hydrodynamic pressure fluctuations from the wall’s boundary layer still propagate acoustically to the cavity bottoms. The findings show that increasing cavity size, by increasing the cavity opening diameter with respect to the length of the eddies in the turbulent boundary layer, leads to a lower propagation of spurious pressure fluctuations to the cavity bottoms. This in turn leads to an increased signal to noise ratio of acoustic measurements recorded at closed test section wind tunnels.
Wind tunnel wall liners have been characterized based on their viscous resistivity, inertial resistivity and roughness. Several porous liners have been tested experimentally. The aim was to analyze their impact on the aerodynamic properties of the wind tunnel boundary layer, on the generation of spurious noise, and on the absorption of acoustic reflections. The results show that the ideal choice of liner consists of a liner: with high viscous resistivity, which leads to high acoustic absorption; with low roughness, to reduce the impact on the wind tunnel wall’s boundary layer; and with low inertial resistivity, to reduce the generation of spurious noise. The best lining material tested was melamine foam.
The acoustic propagation and acoustic interference in a closed wind tunnel test section were predicted with a FEM acoustic solver. The propagation was modelled on a baseline test section, with fully reflective walls, and on test sections with lined walls. The numerical results were found to give a very accurate prediction of the acoustic experimental tests. It was possible to use the numerical results to improve the post—processing of experimental data. The Green’s function used to process experimental microphone data with beamforming was corrected, using the numerical results. Beamforming with the Green’s function corrected for the acoustically disturbed environment led to a higher beamforming spatial resolution. In addition, the estimated noise levels are more accurate when the correction is used. This improved approach was shown to work for post—processing experimental measurements of a monopole sound source placed at the center of the test section, with and without free—stream flow.
The Rhine River plume
Unravelling its dynamics and sea-level contributions
Chapter 2 investigates the variability of the wind-driven response of the Rhine River plume using numerical model simulations of a spring-neap cycle forced by idealized wind conditions. The difference in wind-driven response between spring and neap tide shows how the competition between straining and mixing, both induced by tides and winds, determines the structure and evolution of the Rhine River plume.
Chapter 3 examines the plume’s effect on sea-level variability along the Dutch coast by comparing barotropic and baroclinic model simulations. The Rhine plume induces a positive steric height anomaly, elevating the mean sea level along the coast and modulating the tidal signal near the river mouth. This highlights the need to include river plumes in sea-level studies.
In Chapters 4 and 5, an innovative method is developed for estimating sound speed profiles from multibeam echosounder measurements. The inversion method is based on minimizing the discrepancies between overlapping swaths and exploits empirical orthogonal functions to describe sound speed profiles using a limited number of unknowns. Since sound speed is influenced by depth, temperature, and salinity, this proof-of-concept provides a way to offer valuable insights into the vertical structure of the water column using routinely collected data.
Overall, this thesis advances our understanding of the Rhine River plume and its contribution to sea-level variability. In addition, the development of a proof-of-concept for retrieving sound speed profiles from multibeam echosounder measurements offers a promising approach to provide valuable information on stratification in river plumes. Together, these contributions support improved modelling and understanding of coastal oceans, particularly river plumes, which will become more and more important, especially in the face of climate change and its impact on coastal regions. ...
Chapter 2 investigates the variability of the wind-driven response of the Rhine River plume using numerical model simulations of a spring-neap cycle forced by idealized wind conditions. The difference in wind-driven response between spring and neap tide shows how the competition between straining and mixing, both induced by tides and winds, determines the structure and evolution of the Rhine River plume.
Chapter 3 examines the plume’s effect on sea-level variability along the Dutch coast by comparing barotropic and baroclinic model simulations. The Rhine plume induces a positive steric height anomaly, elevating the mean sea level along the coast and modulating the tidal signal near the river mouth. This highlights the need to include river plumes in sea-level studies.
In Chapters 4 and 5, an innovative method is developed for estimating sound speed profiles from multibeam echosounder measurements. The inversion method is based on minimizing the discrepancies between overlapping swaths and exploits empirical orthogonal functions to describe sound speed profiles using a limited number of unknowns. Since sound speed is influenced by depth, temperature, and salinity, this proof-of-concept provides a way to offer valuable insights into the vertical structure of the water column using routinely collected data.
Overall, this thesis advances our understanding of the Rhine River plume and its contribution to sea-level variability. In addition, the development of a proof-of-concept for retrieving sound speed profiles from multibeam echosounder measurements offers a promising approach to provide valuable information on stratification in river plumes. Together, these contributions support improved modelling and understanding of coastal oceans, particularly river plumes, which will become more and more important, especially in the face of climate change and its impact on coastal regions.
Noise emissions and annoyance of sustainable aviation systems
Identifying noise sources and validating noise prediction models
Reducing the noise emissions and annoyance is only possible when the noise sources of an aircraft are known and can be predicted accurately during the design process. The objective of this dissertation is therefore to improve aircraft noise prediction models that can be used for reducing noise emissions and noise annoyance in the design process. This is specifically applied to currently operational sustainable aviation systems. ...
Reducing the noise emissions and annoyance is only possible when the noise sources of an aircraft are known and can be predicted accurately during the design process. The objective of this dissertation is therefore to improve aircraft noise prediction models that can be used for reducing noise emissions and noise annoyance in the design process. This is specifically applied to currently operational sustainable aviation systems.
On Understanding Environmental Inefficiencies in Air Traffic Management
A Causal Inference Approach
The research findings indicate that the ammonia-fueled sector generally exhibits higher air quality and human health impacts compared to conventional transport. We estimate that the implementation of various ammonia engine configurations into the road transportation fleet in the USA in 2011 could lead to approximately 23 000 to 250 000 premature mortalities.
However, there is potential for mitigating air quality impacts of ammonia emissions through the use of post-combustion treatment methods or the adoption of ammonia-fueled heavy-duty vehicles. These approaches could help achieve air pollution levels comparable to those of fossil fuel vehicles while reducing the carbon footprint, offering future possibilities for an ammonia-fueled road transportation sector. ...
The research findings indicate that the ammonia-fueled sector generally exhibits higher air quality and human health impacts compared to conventional transport. We estimate that the implementation of various ammonia engine configurations into the road transportation fleet in the USA in 2011 could lead to approximately 23 000 to 250 000 premature mortalities.
However, there is potential for mitigating air quality impacts of ammonia emissions through the use of post-combustion treatment methods or the adoption of ammonia-fueled heavy-duty vehicles. These approaches could help achieve air pollution levels comparable to those of fossil fuel vehicles while reducing the carbon footprint, offering future possibilities for an ammonia-fueled road transportation sector.