Computational bluff body aerodynamic noise prediction using a statistical approach

A new method for calculating the aerodynamic noise generated by bluff bodies is presented in this paper. The methodology uses two-dimensional, unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes turbulent flow simulations to calculate the acoustic source terms. To account for turbulent flow effects that are not resolved by the flow simulation, a statistical approach has been developed and applied to introduce narrow band random noise. Spanwise de-correlation of flow information is accounted for using a correction method based on a de-correlation length scale. Curle’s compact acoustic analogy is used to calculate the far-field noise. To illustrate the effectiveness of the method, the turbulent flow and noise about two test cases are calculated and compared with experimental results from the literature.