A reduced-order model for supersonic transport take-off noise scaling with cruise Mach number

Abstract

The recent interest in the development of supersonic transport raises concerns about an increase in community noise around airports. As noise certification standards for supersonic transport other than Concorde have not yet been developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization, there is a need for a physics-based scaling rule of supersonic transport take-off noise performance. This paper presents a reduced-order model for take-off noise levels of supersonic transport as a function of 4 scaling groups: the cruise Mach number, the take-off aerodynamic efficiency, the take-off speed, and the number of installed engines. This paper finds that, as cruise Mach number increases, supersonic transport take-off noise levels increase while their thrust cut-back noise reduction potential decreases. Assuming a constant aerodynamic efficiency, take-off speed, and number of installed engines, a Mach 2.2 aircraft is found to be ~15.3 dB louder and its thrust cut-back noise reduction potential is found to be ~19.2 dB less compared to a Mach 1.4 aircraft. This scaling rule enables regulatory authorities to set equally stringent noise limits for supersonic transport depending on their cruise Mach number.