To characterize and reduce aircraft engine noise, NASA Glenn employs technologies like rotating microphone rakes pioneered in the 1990s, allowing modal analysis of tonal noises which cannot be captured by stationary microphones. These systems have been applied across wind tunnels and full-scale engine tests to better understand disruptive tonal components.
Additionally, phased microphone arrays enable spatial mapping of noise sources in jet flows and rotating engine parts. Complementary techniques such as hot wire anemometry and laser Doppler velocimetry provide detailed airflow data, crucial for understanding broadband noise from turbulence and blade interactions, supporting validated noise prediction models.
Source & further reading
Instrumentation ↗Source published 2026-10-19. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.