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At least 37 records · Page 2

An experimental study of the effects of water repellant treatment on the acoustic properties of Kevlar

The treatment consisted of immersing samples of Kevlar in a solution of distilled water and Zepel. The samples were then drained, dried in a circulating over, and cured. Flow resistance tests showed approximately one percent decrease in flow resistance of the samples. Also there was a density increase of about three percent. It was found that the treatment caused a change in the texture of the samples. There were significant changes in the acoustic properties of the treated Kevlar over the frequency range 0.5 to 3.5 kHz. In general it was found that the propagation constant and characteristic impedance increased with increasing frequency. The real and imaginary components of the propagation constant for the treated Kevlar exhibited a decrease of 8 to 12 percent relative to that for the untreated Kevlar at the higher frequencies. The magnitude of the reactance component of the characteristic impedance decreased by about 40 percent at the higher frequencies.

Smith, C. D.↗

Measured acoustic properties of variable and low density bulk absorbers

Experimental data were taken to determine the acoustic absorbing properties of uniform low density and layered variable density samples using a bulk absober with a perforated plate facing to hold the material in place. In the layered variable density case, the bulk absorber was packed such that the lowest density layer began at the surface of the sample and progressed to higher density layers deeper inside. The samples were placed in a rectangular duct and measurements were taken using the two microphone method. The data were used to calculate specific acoustic impedances and normal incidence absorption coefficients. Results showed that for uniform density samples the absorption coefficient at low frequencies decreased with increasing density and resonances occurred in the absorption coefficient curve at lower densities. These results were confirmed by a model for uniform density bulk absorbers. Results from layered variable density samples showed that low frequency absorption was the highest when the lowest density possible was packed in the first layer near the exposed surface. The layers of increasing density within the sample had the effect of damping the resonances.

Dahl, M. D.↗

Flow and acoustic properties of low Reynolds number supersonic underexpanded jets

Flow and acoustic measurements are made of cold model jets exhausting from a choked nozzle at pressure conditions corresponding to those of Mach 1.4 and 2.1 jets to investigate noise production properties of underexpanded supersonic jets. Mean flow measurements are made using pitot and static pressure probes, with flow fluctuation measurements made with a hot-wire probe and acoustic measurements made with a transversing microphone. Two convergent nozzles with exit diameters of 7.0 and 7.9 mm are used with an exciter consisting of a 0.8 mm tungsten electrode positioned 2 mm from the exit. Shock structure is observed as having a significant effect on the development of the flow field, while large-scale instabilities have higher growth rates in the shock containing underexpanded jets. The role of the asymmetric n = + or - 1 sinusoidal instability is clarified, and results suggest that the broadband shock associated noise of conventional high Reynolds number jets is not related to large-scale jet instability.

Hu, T. F.↗

Biot theory and acoustical properties of high porosity fibrous materials and plastic foams

Experimental values of acoustic wave propagation constant and characteristic impedance in fibrous materials, and normal absorption for two plastic foams, were compared to theoretical predictions obtained with Biot's theory. The best agreement was observed for fibrous materials between Biot's theory and Delany and Bazley experiments for a nearly zero mass coupling parameter. For foams, the lambda/4 structure resonance effect on absorption was calculated by using four-pole modelling of the medium. A significant mass coupling parameter is then necessary for obtaining agreement between the behavior of the measured absorption coefficients and the theoretical predictions. It is shown how the formalism used for predicting foams absorption coefficients may be used for studying the acoustic behavior of multi-layered media.

Allard, J.↗

Acoustical properties of a model rotor in nonaxial flight

Wind tunnel measurements on model rotor blade loads and acoustical noise were correlated to a theoretical formulation of the rotational noise of a rotor in non-axial flight. Good correlation between theory and data was achieved using actual measured rotor blade pressure harmonic decay levels and lift, drag and radial force magnitudes. Both pressure and acoustic data exhibited considerable scatter in hover and low speed forward flight which resulted in a fairly wide latitude in the noise level prediction at higher harmonics.

Hinterkeuser, E. G.↗

Measurements of Acoustic Properties of Porous and Granular Materials and Application to Vibration Control

For application of porous and granular materials to vibro-acoustic controls, a finite dynamic strength of the solid component (frame) is an important design factor. The primary goal of this study was to investigate structural vibration damping through this frame wave propagation for various poroelastic materials. A measurement method to investigate the vibration characteristics of the frame was proposed. The measured properties were found to follow closely the characteristics of the viscoelastic materials - the dynamic modulus increased with frequency and the degree of the frequency dependence was determined by its loss factor. The dynamic stiffness of hollow cylindrical beams containing porous and granular materials as damping treatment was measured also. The data were used to extract the damping materials characteristics using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The results suggested that the acoustic structure interaction between the frame and the structure enhances the dissipation of the vibration energy significantly.

Park, Junhong↗

Acoustical properties of materials and muffler configurations for the 80 by 120 foot wind tunnel

Techniques for measuring the impedance of the muffler configurations and of porous plates with grazing flow were investigated and changes in the configuration parameters to enhance acoustic performance are explored. The feasibility of a pulse reflection technique for measuring the impedance of built-up structures in situ was demonstrated. A second technique involving the use of an open-end impedance tube with grazing flow was used to obtain detailed design data for the perforated plate configuration. Acoustic benefits associated with configuration changes such as curving the baffles, spacing and staggering baffle partitions, and techniques for alleviating baffle self-generated noise are described.

Scharton, T. D.↗

Theory for a gas composition sensor based on acoustic properties

Sound travelling through a gas propagates at different speeds and its intensity attenuates to different degrees depending upon the composition of the gas. Theoretically, a real-time gaseous composition sensor could be based on measuring the sound speed and the acoustic attenuation. To this end, the speed of sound was modelled using standard relations, and the acoustic attenuation was modelled using the theory for vibrational relaxation of gas molecules. The concept for a gas composition sensor is demonstrated theoretically for nitrogen-methane-water and hydrogen-oxygen-water mixtures. For a three-component gas mixture, the measured sound speed and acoustic attenuation each define separate lines in the composition plane of two of the gases. The intersection of the two lines defines the gas composition. It should also be possible to use the concept for mixtures of more than three components, if the nature of the gas composition is known to some extent.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

Acoustic properties of a supersonic fan

Tests of supersonic rotors designed to reduce forward propagating pressure waves and the accompanying blade passing tones and multiple pure tones showed the wave propagation and noise reduction to have been obtained at the expense of increased noise radiation rearward. Outlet guide vanes served to muffle the noise propagating rearwards, but did not affect forward propagation at all.

Goldstein, A. W.↗

Acoustic properties of organic acid mixtures in water

The variation of the rate of propagation of ultrasounds in organic acid mixtures in water points to structural changes caused by interactions that take place under conditions of thermal agitation, at different acid concentrations. At the same time, a difference is found in the changes in velocity as a function of the length of the carbon chain of the acids in the mixture as a result of their effect on the groups of water molecules associated by hydrogen bonds.

Macavei, I.↗

Investigation of acoustic properties of a rigid foam with application to noise reduction in light aircraft

A analytic model of sound transmission into an aircraft cabin was developed as well as test procedures which appropriately rank order properties which affect sound transmission. The proposed model agrees well with available data, and reveals that the pertinent properties of an aircraft cabin for sound transmission include: stiffness of cabin walls at low frequencies (as this reflects on impedance of the walls) and cabin wall transmission loss and interior absorption at mid and high frequencies. Below 315 Hz the foam contributes substantially to wall stiffness and sound transmission loss of typical light aircraft cabin construction, and could potentially reduce cabin noise levels by 3-5 db in this frequency range at a cost of about 0:2 lb/sq. ft. of treated cabin area. The foam was found not to have significant sound absorbing properties.

Holmer, C. I.↗

Acoustic properties of turbofan inlets

The finite element codes were improved using Hermitian elements and numerical integration of element relations. The question of real variable versus complex variable formulation was resolved and an integrated civil engineering system was implemented on the Georgia Tech Cyber 70/74. Efforts are underway to restructure the program to obtain the most efficient use of array storage.

Zinn, B. T.↗

Investigation of the acoustic properties of composite materials

An effort to provide inspection of the bondlines in the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) is discussed. Investigation of the bondlines in the membrane region of the SRM has centered on representative samples provided by Morton Thiokol. These samples have pull-tabs, or in one case grafoil inserts, to simulate delaminations at various points in the multilayer structure of steel case, liner, insulation, liner, and propellant. Discussed here is the continuing approach to examining these defects which is predicated on a model of an ultrasonic wave propagating in a lossy multilayer resonant structure, the experimental arrangements used, and the results of these experiments.

Smith, B. T.↗

Acoustic properties of supersonic helium/air jets at low Reynolds numbers

Experiments have been performed with the objective of developing a greater understanding of the physics of hot supersonic jet noise. Cold helium/air jets are used to easily and inexpensively simulate the low densities of hot air jets. The experiments are conducted at low Reynolds numbers in order to facilitate study of the large-scale turbulent structures (instability waves) that cause most of the radiated noise. Experiments have been performed on Mach 1.5 and 2.1 jets of pure air, pure helium and 10 percent helium by mass. Helium/air jets are shown to radiate more noise than pure air jets due to the increased exit velocity. Microphone spectra are usually dominated by a single spectral component at a predictable frequency. Increasing the jet's helium concentration is shown to increase the dominant frequency. The helium concentration in the test chamber is determined by calculating the speed of sound from the measured phase difference between two microphone signals. Bleeding outside air into the test chamber controls the accumulation of helium so that the hot jet simulation remains valid. The measured variation in the peak radiated noise frequency is in good agreement with the predictions of the hot jet noise theory of Tam et al.

Mclaughlin, Dennis K.↗

Sound-burst Generator for Measuring Coal Properties

Acoustical properties of coal can be measured accurately and with relative ease with aid of digital two-channel sine-wave sound generator. Generator is expected to provide information for development of acoustic devices for measuring thickness of coal in longwall mining. In echo-cancellation measurements, sound bursts are sent to coal sample from opposite directions. Transmitted and reflected amplitudes and phases are measured by transducers to determine coal properties.

Hadden, W. J. J.↗

Flow and far field acoustic amplification properties of heated and unheated jets

The interaction of an acoustic pulse with the experimentally determined mean flow field of a spreading jet is simulated numerically. The simulation is obtained through solving the Euler equations linearized about the spreading jet. The model reveals a small, sustained oscillation long after the original pulse has passed. This remnant is considered a continual shedding of vortices from the nozzle lip, together with the generation of acoustic ripples. IT is shown that the jet also acts as an amplifier of sound. This amplification is traced to the jet's stability characteristics. It is demonstrated that some of the observed differences in the spectra of heated and unheated jets can be attributed to differences in the stability characteristics of the jets.

Maestrello, L.↗

Comparing Acoustic Prediction Methods for Additively Manufactured Porous Strutures

While macroscale methods for predicting the acoustic properties of porous structures have been popular in the past, they often require time-consuming manufacturing and testing workflows. Meanwhile, microscale approaches allow the prediction of transport parameters based exclusively on a periodic structure’s unit cell geometry. Here, we compare these methods to predict the characteristic impedance of additively manufactured porous structures. We use the microscale approach to estimate the geometry’s transport parameters, then predict the characteristic properties using the Johnson-Champoux-Allard (JCA) model. We measure the acoustic properties of the printed structures using a normal incidence impedance tube and estimate the transport parameters using an inverse characterization approach. We use the two-thickness method as a macroscale approach to predict the characteristic properties from the measured surface impedances of two sample thicknesses. Finally, we compare these characteristic prediction methods. Our results show that the inverse characterization and two-thickness methods offer the closest match to the measured values at low frequencies.

impedance↗