Assessment of Aeroacoustic Simulations for the Installation Noise of a Propeller-Wing Configuration in Forward Flight Using Multi-Fidelity Solvers

This study presents a numerical investigation into the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of a 5-bladed propeller installed upstream of a symmetric wing in forward flight. The research aims to assess near-field flow interactions and predict far-field noise levels, using two different approaches: a Lattice-Boltzmann-Method based solver implemented in the software PowerFLOW®, in conjunction with the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy, and a recently developed mid-fidelity fast and non-empirical approach, realized as a hybrid Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes - Computational Aeroacoustics method, based on rotating line-distributed propeller sources. The computational setup emulates a typical operational condition, enabling detailed examination of how the upstream propeller’s wake impacts the aeroacoustic profile of the wing-propeller configuration. This work provides insights into tonal and broadband noise contributions and highlights tonal noise amplification at blade passing frequencies due to the propeller-wing interaction. Further analysis will focus on the flow field characteristics, which are anticipated to reveal interactions between wake turbulence and wing surface, leading to complex noise patterns that could be mitigated in future design optimizations. Upon completion, this study will extend the understanding of installation effects on noise generation in propeller-wing configurations, with the ultimate aim of guiding more efficient aeroacoustic designs for advanced applications.