Prediction of broadband noise from rotating blade elements with serrated trailing edges

Abstract

This paper conducts a theoretical investigation into the prediction of broadband trailing-edge noise for rotating serrated blades. Lyu's semi-analytical noise prediction model for isolated flat plates is extended to rotating blades using Schlinker and Amiet's approach and applied to three test applications including a wind turbine, a cooling fan, and an open propeller. The model is validated by comparing the straight edge results with that presented in the work of Sinayoko et al., which shows an excellent agreement. The noise spectra obtained using different-order approximations show that the second-order solution yields a converged result. It is found that trailing-edge serrations can lead to noise reduction in the intermediate- and high-frequency ranges at an observer angle of 45° at low Mach numbers but may lead to noise increase in the intermediate-frequency range at high Mach numbers. The results show that the directivity patterns change due to the use of trailing-edge serrations and the directivity peaks are observed at high frequencies. A detailed analysis on the effects of rotation shows that for low-Mach number applications, the Doppler effect is weak and the peaky directivity pattern is mainly affected by the nonuniform directivity of an isolated flat plate at high frequencies. However, for high-Mach number applications, the Doppler effect is significant and also contributes to the final directivity pattern of rotating blades.