Experimental Investigation of Fenestron Noise

The noise radiation of an EC135 Fenestron is investigated by means of flight tests. The noise emission was measured with ground microphones during several different maneuvers. These include hover, rearward flight, and forward flight at different combinations of the side slip angle and the airspeed. In hover, a high level of broadband noise is observed. A comparison with available engine noise data suggested that engine noise is not dominant in hover. In rearward flight, the Fenestron may encounter a relatively clean aerodynamic inflow. However, the measurements do not indicate a reduction in noise radiation of the Fenestron. For rearward flight, a significant increase in main rotor noise is observed. Flights at different combinations of the side slip angle and airspeed show that the Fenestron radiates high levels of tonal noise at high-speed flight at negative side slip. The most likely cause for this is a highly disturbed inflow caused by flow separations of the diffusor outlet edge and the sharp trailing edges of the stator blades. Measurements of the tail boom yaw moment and Fenestron drive shaft torque imply that a reverse flow is possible at medium airspeed, while the Fenestron thrust does not reverse sign. Only at higher airspeeds and negative side slip, it is possible to achieve a thrust reversal in addition to a flow reversal.