This paper proposes a novel trailing-edge treatment to reduce airfoil self-noise: a serration–finlet configuration. According to the current literature, while serrations are good at reducing low-frequency noise, finlets are able to significantly reduce noise at high frequencies. Therefore, it is possible that their combination can reduce noise at all frequencies. Wall-modeled large-eddy simulations are performed to compare a serration–finlet configuration to a clean airfoil, an airfoil with serrations only, and an airfoil with finlets only. It is shown that the serration–finlet configuration reduces the far-field overall sound pressure level by 20.2 dB and has an improved aerodynamic performance. The detailed flow physics of noise reduction with the serration–finlet configuration is also investigated. It is found that the serration–finlet configuration remarkably reduces far-field noise by improving the hydrodynamic field at source locations. In particular, near-wall velocity and turbulence kinetic energy are reduced. Large coherent eddies are also broken into smaller turbulent structures. The interactions between serrations and finlets are proven to be beneficial from both aerodynamic and aeroacoustic perspectives. Overall, the current research provides a low-noise solution for wind turbines and the future’s ultra-quiet aircraft.
This paper presents a new idea of reducing airfoil trailing edge noise using a small bump in the turbulent boundary layer. First, we develop and validate a new computational approach to predict airfoil trailing edge noise using steady RANS CFD, an empirical wall pressure spectrum model,
and Howe's diff raction theory. This numerical approach enables fast and accurate predictions of trailing edge noise, which is used to study the noise reduction from the bump for various airfoil geometries and flow conditions at high Reynolds numbers. Three types of bumps, the suction-side
bump, pressure-side bump, and both-side bumps, are studied. The results show that all types of bumps are able to reduce far-field noise up to 10 dB compared to clean airfoils, but their impacts are diff erent in terms of the eff ective frequency range. Also, bumps with four diff erent heights
are compared with each other to investigate the eff ect of the height of bumps on noise reduction. It is demonstrated that a bump causes velocity deficit within the boundary layer near the wall. This velocity deficit results in reduced turbulence kinetic energy near the wall, which is responsible
for trailing edge noise reduction. Overall, this paper demonstrates the potential of a boundary-layer bump in trailing edge noise reduction and sheds light on the physical mechanism of noise reduction with boundary-layer bumps.
This paper uses Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics to study trailing edge noise reduction with 3-D finlets. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics provides boundary layer parameters near a trailing edge for an empirical wall pressure spectrum model, and then an acoustic model predicts far-field noise based on pressure fluctuations obtained from the wall pressure spectrum model. First, this numerical approach is validated against experiments. Second, a comprehensive trend analysis is conducted to give insight into the design of 3-D finlets under different flow conditions. A data-driven turbulence spanwise length scale model is developed to tackle finlets with small spacing. Combined with acoustic results, detailed computational flow field results are analyzed to understand the physical mechanism of noise reduction. While the major part of the proposed mechanism is the same as prior work, several new observations are shown which better understand the physical mechanism of noise reduction with 3-D finlets. The goals of the current paper are to provide an efficient Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-based approach to predict trailing edge noise of 3-D finlets, to give complete trend analysis results with various finlets under different flow conditions, and to advance an understanding of the underlying physics.
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