Development of a New Aircraft Noise Prediction Program

Abstract

This paper discusses a state-of-the-art aircraft noise simulation program. The complete computational framework includes modules for the prediction of geometrical configurations, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, general aircraft performance and acoustics, among others, along with several interfaces for external programs and data structures. The results on output are entirely predicted on the basis of the simulation models implemented. We discuss features such as the benefits of a complete and validated simulation model for commercial airplanes powered by gas turbine engines. Specifically, the aircraft noise module has been designed as a network, so that advances in any of the component analysis can be implemented with ease in the future. We discuss numerical problems around the implementation of selected noise models. Results shown include synchronization of the flight trajectory with Flight-Data-Recorder positions and airfield maps, airfield modelling, noise predictions during a full trajectory, noise footprints, stochastic analysis of aircraft noise in the presence of uncertain parameters. Current challenges are pointed out, including the robustness of some noise models, and the use of these models for airplane configurations that do not exist yet.