Numerical study of potential application of active suction and blowing through blade tip perforation to reduction of helicopter rotor thickness noise

Abstract

The article explains a new concept (called here ATNC – active thickness noise control) of the application of surface transpiration to the reduction of helicopter main rotor harmonic noise. The ATNC method is based on an introduction of four cavities covered by perforated plates (connected to pressure reservoirs) at the leading and trailing edges of the outer 20% of blade span. For an exemplary, two-bladed (NACA 0012 airfoil) model helicopter rotor of Purcell in low-lifting, hover conditions (tip Mach number MaT = 0.66 and collective θ = 1.5° ) the results of numerical simulations, based on the SPARC code (Spalart-Allmaras turbulence and Bohning-Doerffer transpiration models), prove that the acoustic pressure fluctuations are significantly reduced by ATNC in the near-field of blade tip. The peak amplitude is attenuated by more than 45%, with a reduction of the Overall Sound Pressure Level OASPL by 3.4 dB. It is shown also that the venting has not only a large impact on the acoustic radiation, but also on the aerodynamic performance of the rotor, expressed in terms of the torque penalty of 38%. The ATNC method proves to be a promising candidate as a mean of helicopter rotor thickness noise control, but not in the current arrangement.