Evaluation of Urban-Flow-Informed Gusts on eVTOL Vertiport Approach Acoustics

This study examines the impact of gust disturbances on eVTOL acoustics during vertiport approach in an urban setting. A single propeller is modeled using the CREATE\textsuperscript{TM}-AV Helios ROAM actuator line solver coupled to a Spalart-Allmaras Detached Eddy Simulation off-body solver. The model is compared to sub-scale results from Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel experiments, then disturbances are evaluated using full-scale aircraft dimensions. A gust near a prospective vertiport in Boston, MA is derived from PALM, a Large-Eddy Simulation urban flow modeling tool. A sinusoidal gust with frequency and amplitude comparable to the PALM disturbance is introduced to the propeller in a vertiport descent trajectory to analyze noise sources, then the gust from PALM is introduced. The findings of this paper aim to inform eVTOL design strategies and urban vertiport planning efforts to mitigate noise in densely populated environments.