This noise reduction device, with active and passive receptive channels, protects aircraft from damage by decreasing the noise generated from shear layers of flow over open cavities. These pressure oscillations can cause fatigue damage to aircrafts' landing gears and weapons bays. Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a device that responds to flow pressure actively (using plasma) and passively through a geometric modification of the system (via grooves that reduce pressure and noise). The traditional noise reduction solution, a spoiler, requires additional power, a mass injection system and adds viscous drag. The benefit of this noise reduction device, which modifies flow passage, is that it requires no additional flow restrictions or systems. This technology will prove valuable to companies that work with large aircraft supply chains.
Device that actively and passively reduces acoustic pressure oscillations generated from open cavity flow to make landing gears and weapons bays less susceptible to damage
Using plasma and specific geometric modifications (i.e. grooves), University of Florida researchers have significantly decreased the shear layer impingement that causes excessive noise and pressure in aircraft and results in damage to landing gears and weapons bays. By introducing a channel at the trailing edge of the cavity at a location determined by pressure distribution, the researchers effectively suppressed detrimental acoustic tones.