A Gas-Kinetic Relaxation Scheme for Fan Broadband Noise Prediction

This SBIR project proposes to investigate the feasibility of using a gas-kinetic relaxation scheme for fan broadband noise prediction. Since fan broadband noises result from the interaction of turbulence with solid surfaces, it is important to resolve turbulent eddies up to a certain scale and further preserve those turbulent eddies shed from the rotor blades at least up to the downstream stator blades in order to achieve an accurate fan broadband noise prediction. Unfortunately, the so-called shock-capturing schemes are found too diffusive to resolve and preserve those turbulent eddies while they are able to handle the shocks better than the central schemes. To take advantage of both central and upwind approaches, this SBIR effort will pursue a gas-kinetic relaxation approach, in which the relaxation parameter is used to minimize the difference between the numerical dissipation inherent in the upwind approach and the subgrid-scale (SGS) model. As a feasibility study, the NASA 22-in fan noise source diagnostic test (SDT) case will be used in Phase I to demonstrate the capability of the proposed methodology for accurate prediction of fan broadband noise. Therefore, it is meaningful to further refine the methodology and develop a computational software tool for commercialization in Phase II.

The Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) and Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) Projects would benefit from the developed computational tool that could be used to predict the performance and noise impacts of the new engine architectures in early design stages. The Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT) Project would benefit from the developed computational tool to enhance the ability for considering acoustics earlier in the aircraft propulsion system design process. DoD's High Performance Computing Modernization Program would benefit from the developed computational software that could provide them a useful tool for fan broadband noise prediction. Design engineers in engine manufacturers can use the developed computational tool to explore various noise reduction concepts and validate fast, low-fidelity analytical methods for trade-off studies and performance prediction.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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