NASA releases software to predict aircraft engine noise

NASA’s Glenn Research Center has released ten software tools for predicting aircraft engine noise and analyzing propulsion systems. The agency said the programs help engineers design quieter engines and are available from the NASA Software Catalog.

JeNo calculates the far field sound spectral density of axisymmetric jets at a user specified observer location and frequency range. The agency said the code has been validated for subsonic and low supersonic unheated axisymmetric jets. Copies can be requested from the NASA Software Catalog.

MGBK predicts jet noise trends for complicated aircraft engine exhaust nozzles. The agency said the code was used to analyze the noise reduction benefits of chevrons, the serrated edges found on modern turbofan nozzles. Copies are available from the NASA Software Catalog.

V072 provides quick estimates of rotor stator interaction tone noise early in the design cycle. The agency said the code helps engineers choose blade and vane counts, rotor stator spacing, and stator vane sweep and lean. TFaNS extends V072 by accounting for blade row acoustic coupling and propagating tones to the far field. Copies of both tools can be requested from the NASA Software Catalog.

Linflux models realistic three dimensional flows and blade geometries for rotor stator tone noise predictions. The agency said the code requires more computational resources than V072 or TFaNS but has been validated against experimental data. BFANS calculates broadband noise from turbulence impinging on rotor blade leading edges and stator vanes. RSI computes the spectra of broadband noise produced by fan rotor wake turbulence interacting with exit guide vanes, mode by mode. Copies of these programs are available from the NASA Software Catalog.

WOBBLE predicts tone noise from propellers under varying inflow angles described by yaw, pitch, and roll. The agency said the code provides axial and circumferential directivity and accounts for thickness and loading effects. MPT estimates multiple pure tone noise, known as buzz saw noise, using CFD flow predictions and can study effects of blade to blade manufacturing variations. ADPAC solves tightly coupled internal and external flows for short duct turbofan engines, supporting two dimensional, axisymmetric, three dimensional, steady, unsteady, inviscid, viscous, and rotating components. All three codes can be requested from the NASA Software Catalog.