Modified multi-load method for nonlinear source characterisation

Linear frequency domain prediction codes are useful for calculation of low-frequency sound transmission in duct and pipe systems. To calculate insertion loss of mufflers or the level of radiated sound information about the acoustic source is needed. The source model used in the low-frequency plane wave range is the linear time invariant one-port model. The acoustic source data is usually obtained from experimental tests where multi-load methods and especially the two-load method are most commonly used. The exhaust pulsations of for example an IC-engine are of high level, and the engine is not a perfectly linear and time invariant source. It is therefore of interest to develop source models and experimental techniques that try to take this nonlinearity into account. In this paper a modified version of the two-load method to improve the characterisation of nonlinear acoustic one-port sources has been developed and tested. Simulation results as well as experimental data from various source configurations for a modified compressor and experimental data from 6-cylinder turbocharged truck diesel engine were used to validate the method. The influence of parameters controlling the linearity of the system was investigated. The time-variance of the source model was varied and the accuracy of source characterisation results using the two-load method and the modified two-load method was evaluated.