Cumulative nonlinear distortion of an acoustic wave propagating through non-uniform flow

Abstract

In this paper we examine how the unsteady flow field radiated from an oscillating body is altered from the result of acoustic theory as the direct consequence of disturbances propagating through the non-uniform flow produced by the presence of the body. Taking the specific example of an oscillating airfoil placed in supersonic flow and having the contour of a parabolic arc, we derive a closed-form representation for the unsteady flow field in terms of the confluent hypergeometric function. The analytical expression reveals explicitly that, though the body shape has a negligible effect in the near field, it inextricably affects the unsteady flow at a large distance, both in its amplitude and phase, and substantially modifies the results of acoustic theory. In addition, we display the relation of this solution to the ‘fundamental solution’ and the other salient physical features connected with disturbances propagating through non-uniform flow. The present results recover Whitham's rule in the limit of zero frequency of oscillation and also include, as another special case, the unsteady solution for a wedge obtained by Carrier and Van Dyke.