Numerical investigation on radiation characteristics of discrete-frequency noise from scarf and scoop aero-intakes

Numerical studies have been carried out to investigate the detailed geometrical effects of full three-dimensional aero-intakes on the radiation of the discrete-frequency rotor–stator interaction noise. The near-field acoustic radiation characteristics and the far-field directivity patterns from the scarf and scoop aero-intakes with three different scarf/scoop angles are quantitatively analyzed and compared. The near-field predictions were obtained by solving the linearized Euler equations with computational aeroacoustic techniques consisting of high-order finite difference scheme, non-reflecting boundary conditions, overset grids and parallel computational methods. For the prediction of far-field directivity pattern, the Kirchhoff integral method was applied. By comparing the directivities of discrete-frequency noise radiating from the scarf and the scoop aero-intakes with that from an axisymmetric aero-intake, it is shown that the 7 dB noise reduction at downward peak radiation angle can be achieved by using the scoop aero-intake with scoop angle of 15°, and the 5 dB noise reduction by the scarf aero-intake with the scarf angle of 15°. The scattering of the radiating acoustic wave by the background mean flow around the aero-intakes shifts the peak lobe radiation angle toward ground and increases the amplitude of the acoustic pressure compared with the cases without mean flow effect. Overall, the scoop aero-intake was found to be more effective than the scarf and the axisymmetric aero-intakes in view of the lower noise radiation toward ground.