Air raid warning devices

Abstract

The study and characterization of non-linear phenomena in silencers and microperforated panels under high sound pressure level and mean flow require a dedicated experimental bench with adequate acoustic sources. For this purpose, electropneumatic sources are excellent candidates to reach the expected operating conditions in the laboratory. The challenge is to design a source that can generate a high tonal sound level (> 160 dB SPL) under a significant mean flow (M > 0.1) with a low harmonic distortion. The objective is to focus on mastering the design process of such a tonal source based on an analytical modeling of the physical phenomenon of tonal sound generation and flow as a function of geometrical and pneumatic supply parameters. Based on this validated analytical modeling, a new original source has been developed with the objective of generating a pure harmonic sound in the frequency range [100; 800] Hz, that can reach 180 dB in an infinite duct, combined with a flow up to Mach 0.3. For this purpose, a flow chopper system with a digitally optimized pattern has been specifically developed to minimize harmonic distortion. Considering the need to experimentally evaluate the rate of harmonic distortion with a high degree of accuracy, a complex envelope analysis by Vold-Kalman was implemented in post-processing. Finally, an experimental test campaign was set up on a dedicated bench to test with an open ended duct, for different supply pressures going from 2.07 105 to 3.45 105 Pa, the performances of the new acoustic source. The results of this test campaign show that the device can generate a tonal sound level with a distortion of less than 40 % for the second order and less than 20 % for the higher orders, with a sound pressure level that can reach 186 dB at the resonances in presence of an average flow reaching M = 0.24. These observations are consistent with the predictions of both analytical and numerical models.