Testing System to Enable Development of Active Noise Cancelation on Open Rotor Propulsion

The proposed innovation is an adaptable aircraft propulsion platform broadband acoustic emulator for rapidly testing and characterizing revolutionary aircraft noise reduction treatments. The proposed platform is capable of emulating the acoustic environment within an aircraft propulsion platform by generating a target noise signature using acoustic actuators. Revolutionary noise control treatments can then be introduced into the generated acoustic environment to rapidly characterize and tune their behavior. The platform is capable of emulating many aircraft propulsion platforms at different engine operating conditions as well as generating diagnostic noise signatures which can aid in the characterization and calibration of aircraft noise treatments. The proposed emulator is flexible in that it allows characterization of a treatment over a wide variety of propulsion platforms and operating conditions. It is also inexpensive to build and maintain as compared to the infrastructure required to utilize a full propulsion platform test bench.

This emulator is relevant to the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project by allowing the characterization and testing of propulsion noise reduction technologies. The Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT) Project would also benefit by providing a testing platform on which advanced material systems such as acoustic liner concepts and adaptive materials that reduce propulsion noise can be tested.

The commercial aviation industry has a strong interest in reducing aircraft noise as it is a primary limiter in the growth of the nation's aviation transportation fleet. The aviation industry would benefit from a flexible and low cost acoustic test bench which has the potential to significantly increase acoustic testing throughput compared to traditional testing methods.

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