Tool Development for Low-Noise Aircraft Design

Abstract

In order to include aircraft noise as an additional constraint in aircraft design, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is currently developing a prediction tool named PANAM (Parametric Aircraft Noise Analysis Module) to analyse aircraft noise radiation in the preliminary design stage. This necessitates a detailed noise analysis for each iteration in the design process. As a result, minimal demand in computational time becomes a major requirement and rules out CPU intense Computational Aeroacoustic methods. Instead, aircraft noise is estimated through semi-empirical source models. The implemented noise source models are parametric, meaning that the effects on noise of individual sources can be monitored throughout a simulated flight operation. In addition to common noise evaluation methods, new approaches are implemented in PANAM. The variation of noise levels versus time can be captured and animated. This allows for real-time evaluation of the influence of aircraft operating conditions on noise radiation. Thereby, noise related effects can be identfied and analysed. The level time histories for selected locations as well as animated noise footprints can be generated.