Active CFRP-Panels for Reduction of Low-Frequency Turbulent Boundary Layer Noise

Abstract

The increasing use of modern lightweight materials in the aircraft industry raises the demand for innovative and lightweight-compliant noise abatement techniques. Smartstructures technology is able to overcome the passive constraints in the low-frequency range (<500Hz) by augmenting the light-weight structure with structurally integrated transducers and a suitable control scheme. In these investigations, an active carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) panel was designed, manufactured and experimentally investigated in an acoustic wind tunnel. Measurement data of turbulent wall pressure fluctuations, structural vibration and active sound power provide a database for the verification and validation of the developed simulation models. Active control of the smart CFRP-panel showed a broadband reduction of third-octave band sound power level up to 6dB(A).