Airfoil Trailing Edge Noise Reduction Using a Boundary-Layer Bump

This paper presents a new idea of reducing airfoil trailing edge noise using a small bump in the turbulent boundary layer. First, we develop and validate a new computational approach to predict airfoil trailing edge noise using steady RANS CFD, an empirical wall pressure spectrum model, and Howe's diff raction theory. This numerical approach enables fast and accurate predictions of trailing edge noise, which is used to study the noise reduction from the bump for various airfoil geometries and flow conditions at high Reynolds numbers. Three types of bumps, the suction-side bump, pressure-side bump, and both-side bumps, are studied. The results show that all types of bumps are able to reduce far-field noise up to 10 dB compared to clean airfoils, but their impacts are diff erent in terms of the eff ective frequency range. Also, bumps with four diff erent heights are compared with each other to investigate the eff ect of the height of bumps on noise reduction. It is demonstrated that a bump causes velocity deficit within the boundary layer near the wall. This velocity deficit results in reduced turbulence kinetic energy near the wall, which is responsible for trailing edge noise reduction. Overall, this paper demonstrates the potential of a boundary-layer bump in trailing edge noise reduction and sheds light on the physical mechanism of noise reduction with boundary-layer bumps.