Acoustics Modeling Using Fluent

Aeroacoustics Modeling
By:
Sandeep Sovani, Ph.D.
Senior Consulting Engineer
Fluent Inc., Ann Arbor, MI
March 18th, 2005
Presented at Fluent Lunch and Learn seminar series
St. Johns Conference Center, Plymouth, MI
Welcome!
Fluent Inc.s LunchNLearn Seminar Series
z Topical seminars on leading edge CFD applications
z Held frequently
Aeroacoustics Modeling March 18, 2005

FloWizard April 22, 2005
Unsteady Flow Modeling April 29, 2005
Multiphase Modeling May 20, 2005
z Purpose
Inform the FLUENT community about the subject
f Discuss basics, physics, theory, modeling techniques,
f Tools available in FLUENT to model the subject
f Examples
Outline
Aeroacoustics Basics
Simulation Methods
z Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA)
z Segregated Source-Propagation Methods (SSPM)
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Boundary Element Methods
Integral Methods
z Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR)
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
3
Basics: Acoustics
Definitions
z Acoustics = The scientific study of sound[1]
z Sound = Pressure waves radiating in any material medium
History
z Sound was recognized to be a wave phenomenon over 2000
years ago![2]
Chrysippus (Greek philosoper, 240 BC)
Vetruvius (Roman architect and engineer, 25 BC)
Sound has essential characteristics of waves

z It has a source
Oscillatory disturbance
z It propagates in a medium
Transports energy without transporting matter
Basics: Acoustics
Source, Medium, Propagation, Receiver
Source
Medium
Wave Propagation
Receiver
Source
Medium
Wave Propagation
Basics: Acoustics
Acoustics is sub-classified based on[2]
z Source
Aeroacoustics
Vibroacoustics
Etc.
z Medium
Hydroacoustics
Seismology
Etc.
z Etc
Basics: Aeroacoustics
Aeroacoustics
z Sub-area of acoustics where the source of sound is fluid flow
Characteristics
z No moving boundaries
such as electric speakers, vibrating strings, or vocal chords
z Unsteady fluid flow always produces pressure oscillations

therefore is inherently a source of sound
Examples
z Whistles
z HVAC vent noise
z Automotive wind noise
Basics: Aeroacoustics
Receiver
Acoustic Medium
Flow
Sound
Source
Source Transient pressure variation caused by the flow
Sound Pressure waves propagating in the acoustic medium
Basics: Characteristics of Sound

Sound waves have several key attributes
z Compressible phenomenon
z Wave amplitude is very small
140
120
1atm = 1E+5 Pa
SPL (dB)
100
80
60
40
20
0
1.E-04
1.E-03
1.E-02
1.E-01
1.E+00
Pressure (Pascal)
p' rms
SPL = 20log10
p
ref
1.E+01
1.E+02
p ref = 2 10 5 N / m 2
z Sound waves carry only a tiny fraction of the energy contained

in the mean flow
E.g. Acoustic energy generated by Boeing 747 during take-off is
not enough to boil an egg!
9
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
10
Simulation: Objectives
Outputs typically desired from a aeroacoustics study
z Source Strengths
Source Ranking
z Frequency Spectrum
At observer
z Directivity
11
Simulation: Aspects
To obtain the desired outputs two aspects need to
be simulated
z Sound source
Provides source characteristics and rankings
z Sound propagation
Propagation of sound from the source to the receiver
f Requires input of source characteristics
f Provides
Sound spectrum and receiver
Sound directivity
Aeroacoustics simulation essentially involves

computing these two aspects
12
Simulation: Approaches
There are 3 primary simulation approaches
Sometimes referred to as Direct Noise Computation (DNC)
Sound sources and propagation solved in a single
comprehensive model

Sound source and propagation solved separately via two
separate computations
f Integral Methods
f Boundary Element Methods
f Variational Methods
We will discuss each of these methods in detail

z
z
z
z
Theory
Applicability
Advantages/Disadvantages
Examples
13
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
14
CAA: Theory
CAA = Computational AeroAcoustics
CAA :: Aeroacoustics
DNS :: Turbulence
z Direct simulation; no models involved
Premise
z Fluid flow at sound source and sound propagation, both
are fluid phenomena
Therefore both are governed by Navier-Stokes equations
z Solve transient N-S equations to calculate both

Sound generation
Propagation
f Domain spans from sources to receivers
z Most straightforward in terms of both implementation

and usage
A comprehensive CFD code such as FLUENT solves the
Navier-Stokes equations
Simply conduct a transient CFD solution and measure
static pressure at mike as function of time
15
CAA: Theory
Receiver
Propagation
p(t)
Sound Source
Computational Domain
16
CAA: Applicability
Practical problems in using CAA
1] Frequency range (20 Hz ~ 20,000 Hz)
z Acoustic timescales are often orders of magnitude
greater than turbulence timescales
z Simulation needs to be run for long real time with a
small timesteps, i.e. for large no. of timesteps
2] Radiation to Far Field

z Domain needs to extend from source to receiver
z Large mesh sizes for far-field sound problems
e.g. aircraft noise heard on the ground
17
CAA: Applicability
3] Acoustic Pressure Magnitude

z Magnitude of the acoustic pressure is much less than
the hydrodynamic pressure
z Necessitates use of very high order discretization
schemes to propagate sound over long distances
Still then, can only propagate sound over limited distance
140
120
SPL (dB)
100
80
60
40
patm ~ 1E+5 Pa
20
0
1.E-04
1.E-03
1.E-02
1.E-01
1.E+00
Pressure (Pascal)
18
1.E+01
1.E+02
CAA: Applicability
CAA is practically applicable only to cases
where these 3 obstacles are relatively minor
z Frequency range
Lower the better
z Distance between source(s) and receiver(s)

Smaller the better
z Sound pressure
Larger the better
19
CAA: Applicability
Frequency
Region of practical applicability
Increasing Sound Pressure
Distance Between Source and Receiver

Quantitative expressions for the bounding lines of the region of
practical applicability are still a open matter for research
20
CAA: Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages
z Simple to implement
Single simulation solves sound generation as well as
propagation
z Can account for flow-sound coupling

Cases where sound has backward effect on flow
Disadvantages
z Limited applicability
As discussed on previous slides
z Computationally expensive
Large meshes
Long transient computations
z Mesh needs to be carefully prepared to capture

sources properly
21
CAA: Example1: 1D-Pressure Pulse

Gaussian pulse initialized, = 1m;
Mesh size x = 0.2m, 2/x = 10
Coupled explicit solver, CFL=0.75;
Inviscid, 2nd order upwind
Standard pressure outlet BC
Pressure outlet BC with NRBC
Pulse reflects as expansion

wave at open boundary
Pulse leaves domain with no

reflection
Courtesy: Dr. Thomas Scheidegger
22
CAA: Example2: Circular Piston

Circular piston in infinite wall
r =0.1m, 2D axisymmetric
Domain size 2m, x=0.005m, 160,000 grid points
Vibration frequency f =3000Hz, amplitude 0.5mm
=0.11m, /x=22, Coupled explicit solver, CFL=0.75
Inviscid, 2nd-order upwind discretization
Analytical solution for

first minimum in directivity:
sin 1= 3.83/kr kr >> 1
MDM mesh
motion
Courtesy: Dr. Thomas

Scheidegger
23
CAA: Example2: Circular Piston
Courtesy: Dr. Thomas Scheidegger

24
/x=44
f =1500Hz
kr = 2.72
1 80.7o
160,000 grid points
/x=22
f =3000Hz
kr = 5.43
1 44.8o
f =6000Hz
Acoustic beaming
for higher frequencies
correctly predicted
Marginally resolved
propagation
160,000 grid points
/x=11
/x=22
160,000
grid points
kr = 10.86
1 20.7o
640,000 grid points
25
Analytical solution for

first minimum in directivity:
sin 1= 3.83/kr kr >> 1
Courtesy: Dr. Thomas

Scheidegger
CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Buffeting
z Loud throbbing sound/pulsation felt inside a car cabin
when the window(s) or sunroof are open
z Also known as wind-throb
Example
z Aimed at predicting sound pressure spectrum at
drivers and passengers ears when side window is
open
z Parametric studies
Effect of position inside the cabin
Different window openings
Different mirror designs
26

References:
z Passenger Car:
Hendriana, D., Sovani, S.D., and Scheimann, M. On
simulating passenger car side window buffeting, SAE
International Paper 2003-01-1316 (2003)[3]
z SUV:
An, C.-F., Alaie, S.M., Sovani, S.D., Scislowicz M.,
Singh, K., Side window buffeting characteristics of a
SUV, Vehicle Aerodynamics, Vol. SP1874, pp. 43 - 53,
SAE International Paper 2004-01-0230 (2004)[4]
27
The figure that originally appeared on this page has been removed.
See Figures 1 and 2 from SAE paper 2003-01-1316
Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

28
See Figure 4 from SAE paper 2003-01-1316

29
See Figure 3 and Tables 2,3 from SAE paper 2003-01-1316

30

Pressure Variation
z 60 mph, 5 degree yaw
31

Velocity Magnitude Variation

32

SPL spectrum at drivers ear

33

Effect of Position in the Cabin

34

Effect of Exhauster and Slightly Opening the Rear Window

35

Difference
between two
mirror housing
designs
See Figures 7 and 15 from SAE paper 2003-01-1316

36

Difference between two mirror housing designs
See Figures 18 from SAE paper 2003-01-1316

37
CAA: Example4: Side View Mirror

Sound radiated from a generic automotive side-view mirror[14]
z SVMs are strong contributors to wind noise
z Bluff bodies prominently protruding from vehicle surface
Produce highly turbulent, transient wakes that are sources of
sound (unsteady pressure variation)
38

Generic Side View Mirror
z Half cylinder (0.2m dia. and height), topped with a
quarter sphere
z Mounted on a flat plate
z Experimental flow/sound measurements reported in literature
Hold et al. (AIAA-99-1896)[5] and Seigert et al. (AIAA-99-1895)[6]
39

Boundary Conditions
z Inlet velocity = 200 km/hr
z Re = 7 105
Pressure Far-Field
Walls
Velocity
Inlet
Symmetry
40
Mesh
z All hex mesh, 1.4 million cells
Mirror
Inlet
41

Solution Settings:
z CFD code: Fluent 6.1
Finite Volume Method based
Navier-Stokes Solver
z Solver: Segregated Implicit

z Turbulence Model: LES
Smagorinsky-Lilly sub-grid scale model
z Discretization schemes:
Time: 2nd order implicit
Momentum: 2nd order upwind
Pressure-Velocity Coupling: SIMPLE
Transient Solution:
z
z
z
z
Timestep size: 60 microsecond

Total timesteps: 2100
Run time: 4.75 days
Hardware: 2 processors, Intel P4,
2.2 GHz, RedHat Linux
42

Flow Velocity and Pressure
z Velocity magnitude on horizontal plane
z Static pressure on vertical plane
43

Microphone Locations
Side View
Pt 101
Top View
44

Sound Pressure Spectrum[14]
110
Point 101
Experimental
CFD - CAA
CFD - AA
SPL (dB)
90
70
Reference for
Experimental Data:
Hold et al. (AIAA-991896)[5] and Seigert
et al. (AIAA-991895)[6]
50
30
10
0
500
1000
Frequency (Hz)
45
1500
2000
CAA: Example5: Air Intake Whistle

Automotive air intake manifolds can produce loud whistles
(tonal noise)
In this example we study such whistle production with CAA[7]
Inlet
Throttle
Body
Inclined
Face
Intake Outlet
Throttle Sidebranch
Manifold
Cavity
Plate
46

=43
Two cases were studied

z Baseline (Produced Strong
Whistle)
z Modified (Attenuated Whistle)
Airflow
Simulation were carried in two

stages
z 2D (Along centerline cut of the
geometry)
z 3D (Work in progress)
47
Baseline
=43
Airflow
Modified

4 18000 2D Quad Cells,
4 k- RNG Turbulent Model
4 Unsteady Simulation
4 Coupled Solver
4 2nd Order Upwind
4 Time Step = 2.5e-05s
4 Run Time = 0.04s
4 Ideal Gas Law
4 Double Precision
Solver
Inlet
(101325 Pa)
43
High Mesh
Density
Monitor
Point A
Zip Tube
Throttle
Plate
48
Sump
Outlet
92325Pa
P = 9kPa

Velocity Magnitude in Modified Geometry
Ref: SAE Paper 2005-01-2364 Kannan et al.

Computational Aeroacoustics Simulation of Whistle
Noise in An Automotive Air-Intake System
49

Baseline Design
z Sound spectrum measured at sump bottom
Computational - 2D
Experimental - 3D
180
170
159dB @
2125Hz
160
153dB @
1710 Hz
SPL (dB)
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Frequency (Hz)

50
3500
4000
4500
5000

Modified Design
z Sound spectrum measured at sump bottom
Computational - 2D
Experimental - 3D
180
170
137dB @
2125Hz
150 dB @
1710 Hz
160
SPL (dB)
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Frequency (Hz)

51
3500
4000
4500
5000

Difference between CFD and experimentally measured
spectra
z Primarily due to strong 3D effects in experiments
In reality flow passes around the sides of the throttle plates
Side flow affects the shear layer on the sump
z Present CFD simulations are only 2D

All air flow has to pass above or below the throttle plate
Impingement length is different, therefore Strouhal number (St
= fL/U) is different
Excitation happens at fixed St, so greater L in 2D causes peak
to occur at lower f
3D CFD simulations are in progress

z Show great improvement in accuracy
Sample results seen in FLUENT6 for Acoustics Modeling[8]
z Results to be presented in Fluent CFD Summit 2005 to be

held in Dearborn, MI, June7-9 2005
52
CAA: Examples Overview

Air-Intake Whistle
Frequency
Increasing Sound Pressure

Generic Side View Mirror
Side Window Buffeting
Distance Between Source and Receiver

53
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
54
SSPM: Theory
Segregated Source-Propagation Methods
z Sound generation and propagation are independent phenomena
in most cases
They happen at vastly different scales
f Flow pressure ~ 1 kPa; Acoustics pressure ~ 1 mPa
f Turbulence length scales ~ 1m; Acoustic wavelengths ~1m
f Turbulence time scales ~ 1 s; Acoustic timescales ~ 1ms
z Problem domain can be thought to be composed of

two layers
Flow field
f Governs sound generation
f Navier-Stokes equations
Acoustic field
f Governs sound propagation
f Wave equation
z Advantages
Reduced computational effort
Expanded applicability to a wide variety of problems
55
SSPM: Theory
Derivation of the Wave Equation
z Linearized Continuity Equation (For fluctuations)
'
u '
+ i =0
t
xi
z Linearized Momentum Equation
(No convection, no body forces, no viscous stresses)
z Eliminate
ui ' p'
0
+
=0
t xi
2 ' 2 p'
2 =0
2
t
xi
u'i
z Use isentropic relation for speed of sound
p' = c '
2
z Wave Equation
p
c2 =
2
p'
2 p'
2
c
=0
2
2
t
xi
56
SSPM: Theory
Connection between the
two segregated parts of
the problem: source and
propagation
z Sir James Lighthill provided
the mathematical foundation
for connecting the source
and propagation parts
z Famous Lighthills Acoustic
Analogy [9]
57
SSPM: Theory
Lighthills Acoustic Analogy[9]
z Continuity Equation
+
( ui ) = 0
t xi
z Momentum Equation
(Convection included, but no viscous stresses)
u i
u i
p
=
+uj
x j
xi
t
In a conservative form
u i u i u j
p
+
=
t
x j
xi
z Eliminate
ui
2 ( u iu j )
2
2p
=
+
2
t
xix j
xixi
58
SSPM: Theory
Lighthills Acoustic Analogy (continued)
z The previous equation can be cast in the form of a wave
equation in an undisturbed medium at rest by subtracting
from both sides:
2
co2
'
xi xi
z This gives Lighthills Equation
Where
2Tij
2' 2 2'
c0
=
2
t
xi xi xi x j
Tij = ui u j + ( p co2 ) ij
This is referred to as Lighthills tensor
For nearly isentropic flows:
Tij o ui u j
59
SSPM: Theory
Lighthills Acoustic Analogy (continued)
z Lighthills equation can be thought of as a wave equation with
a source term
Wave Equation
2 p' 2 2 p'
=0
c0
2
xi xi
t
Lighthills Equation
2Tij
2' 2 2'
c0
=
2
t
xi xi xi x j
Propagation
Source
z Lighthills tensor representing the sound source can be

calculated by solving Navier-Stokes equations using CFD
60
SSPM: Theory
Computing Propagation
z Once CFD provides sound source information the problem
reduces to solving for sound propagation
z Several methods exist for this with varying level of
simplification
Rigorous Lighthill equation solution
f Finite Difference Methods
f Variational Methods (Finite Element)[10]

Integral Methods
f Kirchoffs Method[11]
f Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings Method[12]
z Discussion on development of most of these methods is

beyond the scope of this presentation.
See references for more information
61
SSPM: Implementation
FLUENT provides features to compute sound propagation
using several of these methods
z Variational Methods (Finite Element Method)
ACTRAN-LA is a third party Lighthills equation solver code
developed by Free Field Technologies
f Fluent has an interface to export Lighthills tensor and other variables
to ACTRAN
z Boundary Element Method

SYSNOISE is a third party BEM code developed by LMS
International
f Fluent has an interface to export surface pressure fluctuation to
SYSNOISE
Being a Boundary Element code SYSNOISE needs only the
pressure fluctuation on the boundaries
z Integral Methods
FLUENT has an inbuilt sound propagation module based on the
Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FWH) Method[12]
f Part of the standard FLUENT package, no add-on components
required
62
SSPM: Implementation
SSPM Implementation follows these steps for each method
z Perform well resolved transient simulation of flow in and
around the sound source regions
Save required data (such as Lighthills tensor, or time-varying
surface pressure) on source regions
z Read saved data into the sound propagation solver (ACTRAN,

SYSNOISE, or FLUENTs inbuilt FWH module)
Perform sound propagation computation
z Post-process acoustic results

Sound spectra, Directivity
Receiver
CFD Domain
Sound
Propagation
Source
63
p(t)
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
64
SSPM: FWH Method

FLUENTs FWH module
z The most general Acoustic Analogy-based integral
formulation today is the Ffowcs-Williams Hawkings
(FW-H) method[13]
Allows
f Moving surfaces
f Permeable surfaces
Lighthill-Curles integral is a subset of the FW-H

formulation
z Essentially an integral method

Store time-varying pressure at all points on the identified
source surfaces during a transient CFD simulation
After transient CFD simulation is completed, an automatic
one-click routine provides sound pressure signal at
predefined receiver locations
65
SSPM: FWH Method

Benefits
z Less computation expense
Small CFD Domain
f only covering source area
Ideal for far-field applications
Disadvantages
z Cannot account for backward effect of sound on flow
z Cannot account for reflections
z Needs straight line of sight from source to receiver
66
SSPM: FWH Method

Fluent 6.2 implements the FW-H integral method
in its most general form
z Allowable source surfaces
Walls (impermeable)
Permeable source surfaces (interiors, inlets, outlets,
sliding interface)
f Can be used to account for quadrupole sources by wrapping
an interior source surface around a quadrupole volume
source
Moving/rotating source surfaces
z Special addition
steady state fan noise (Gutin noise)
z Multiple source surfaces and multiple receivers allowed
67
SSPM: FWH Method

Fluent6.2 FWH Implementation
z Time-domain implementation
Forward-time formulation
f allows for on the fly simultaneous noise calculations
z Usable with segregated and coupled implicit solvers

z Compressible or incompressible source data
z 3D and 2D planar implementation
FW-H not available for axisymmetric solver
Targeted applications
z External aerodynamic noise
Side view mirrors, Louvers, .
Landing gear, high-lift devices,
z Fan/rotor noise
z Jet noise
68
SSPM: FWH Method: Example 1

Generic Side View Mirror[14]
Source Surfaces
110
Point 101
Experimental
CFD - CAA
CFD - AA
SPL (dB)
90
70
50
30
10
0
500
1000
Frequency (Hz)
69
1500
2000

Landing gear scale model
M=0.2, ReD=1.23x106
Segregated solver, incompressible

LES, Smagorinsky, Cs=0.1
2nd-order in time, t=2.5x10-6 s
Bounded central-differencing in space
Mesh:
5.3M cells
173,000 surfaces tri-elements, s=0.0135D
6 prism layers, h1=1.6x10-3D
Run time:
3min 40s per time step, 4 nodes
9950 time steps for flow to pass through
domain (18D), 25 days run time
FW-H analysis:
Source data extraction after one flow pass
Source data sampled during 0.9 flow
passes
70

Cells are
clustered in
wake and
near landing
gear
71

Vortical structures, (2 - SjiSij)/2 = (u0/D)2
72

receivers 1, 3
Receiver
OASP
92.9 dB
98.3 dB
p(t)
93.4 dB
96.8 dB
SPL receivers 1, 3
92.3 dB
73

Automotive A-pillar Rain Gutter[15]
z Air speed = 22.35 m/s
z Reynolds number of 40,000
H
Microphone
D
K
Flow
74

Rain gutter: Flow structure
Static pressure
contours
Static pressure
contours
Vorticity Iso-surface
colored by velocity mag.
75
Rain gutter

Rain gutter: Flow structure
Contours of Velocity Magnitude

on the symmetry plane
Rain gutter
76

Rain Gutter: Surface pressure fluctuation
Surface Pressure Spectrum
(Upstream Microphone)
120
Experiment (Kumarasamy and Karbon)
Fluent (LES Central Differencing)
100
Kumarasamy and Karbon CFD
Timestep size = 8E-5 sec
80
SPL (dB)
Rain Gutter
LES
Central Differencing
Run 2
Model A
POINT -5; 0.05 m upstream of

the raingutter's vertical side
60
CFD spectrum is average of

5 samples. Each sample was
measured for 0.1 sec.
40
20
0
0
500
1000
1500
x (m)
77
Reference:
Kumarasamy S. and
Karbon K., Aeroacoustics
of an Automobile A-Pillar
2000Rain Gutter:
Computational and
Experimental Study, SAE
Paper 1999-01-1128,
(1999)[16]

Rain Gutter: Sound at far-field microphone
100
Experiment (Kumarasamy and Karbon)

Fluent (LES - Central Differencing)
Kumarasamy and Karbon - CFD
80
Rain Gutter
LES
Central Differencing
Run 2
Model A
Timestep size = 8E-5 sec
Far-field microphone location
60
SPL (dB)
CFD spectrum is average of

5 samples. Each sample was
measured for 0.058 sec.
40
20
0
0
500
1000
1500
Frequency (Hz)
78
Reference:
Kumarasamy S. and
Karbon K., Aeroacoustics
of an Automobile A-Pillar
Rain Gutter:
2000Computational and
Experimental Study, SAE
Paper 1999-01-1128,
(1999)[16]
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
79
SNGR
Rationale
z Unsteady simulations (LES and DES) are time-consuming
z Steady RANS results contain a fair amount of useful
information
mean velocity components,

mean pressure,
turbulent kinetic energy,
rate of dissipation, etc.
z This information can be used to shed some light on

broadband (turbulence) noise
z Cant avoid approximation
z Yet potentially very useful to:
screen noisier designs
Identify the primary source of the noise
80
SNGR
FLUENT6.2s Offering:
Broadband Noise Source Models
Source terms in the acoustic
equations
z Lilleys equation
z Linearized Euler equation (LEE)
Proudmans formula for turbulence

noise [17]
Turbulent boundary layer noise
model [17]
Jet noise source models
z Ribner
z Goldstein
All these models require steady

RANS results only.
81
SNGR
BB Model 1: Lilleys Acoustic Sources
Steady RANS results used to synthesize turbulent
velocity fields with the stochastic noise generation and
radiation (SNGR) method.
FLUENT reports the r.m.s. values of the source terms.
z Self-noise sources
z Shear-noise sources
Iso-surface of
Lilleys acoustic
source (total)
strength
82
SNGR
BB Model 2: LEE Source Terms
Source terms in LEE (Linearized Euler Equation)
uai
u
u
U i
u
+ U j ai + = U j ti utj
utj ti
x j
t
x j
x j
x j
1442443 1
424
3
Shear noise
Self noise
z Steady RANS (k-, k-, RSM) results are used to synthesize

turbulent velocity fields with the SNGR method.
z FLUENT reports r.m.s. values of the source terms in the
individual coordinate directions.
Self-noise source
Shear-noise source
83
SNGR
BB Model 3: Proudman Acoustic Power
Originally derived by Proudman (1952) for noise due to
isotropic turbulence (quadrupole sources)
Recently re-derived (Lilley, 1993) and confirmed using
DNS (Sarkar and Hussaini, 1993)
Simple yet very useful to determine the local contribution
to the total acoustic power.
BB Model 4: Boundary Layer Noise

Developed by Fluent Inc.
z Based on Lighthill-Curle formulation
84
SNGR: Example
Broadband noise source models are practically
useful for
z Determine prominent noise generating regions in a flow
domain
z Determine noise rankings of different variations of a
design
Current example demonstrates how the BB

models can be used to determine noise rankings
amongst several ducts[17]
Acknowledgements: Study conducted in collaboration with

Delphi Thermal and Interior Systems
85
SNGR: Example
Generic HVAC duct
z Baseline design
z Three additional design variation
z Aim: determine noise ranking with BB models and
compare with experimentally determined noise
rankings
See SAE paper 2005-01-2495 On Predicting the Aeroacoustic
Performance of Ducts with Broadband Noise Source Models.
86
SNGR: Example
Design Variations
The figures that originally appeared on this page have been

removed.
Baseline: Design 1
Design 2
Design 4
Design 3
87
SNGR: Example
Mesh
88
SNGR: Example
Solver Settings and Boundary Conditions
Function
Setting
Steady state,
Segregated
Implicit
Double Precision
RNG k-e
2nd order
2nd order upwind
SIMPLEC
Air (incompressible)
Solver
Precision
Turbulence Model
Pressure discretization
Momentum
discretization
Pressure-velocity
coupling
Fluid
Boundary
Boundary
Condition
Value
Constant Velocity
Interior
No slip wall
Constant
Pressure
No slip wall
7.507 m/s
(=300 cfm)
0 Pa (gage)
Duct Inlet
Duct Outlet
Duct boundaries
Plenum Outlet
Plenum
boundaries
89
SNGR: Example
Flow Structure: Contours of velocity magnitude
90
SNGR: Example
Acoustic power generated inside the duct as estimated
from the BB models
z (1) Proudman Formula (Representative of quadrupole
contribution)
z (2) Turbulent Boundary Layer Noise (Representative of
dipole contribution)
Design
Design1
Design2
Design3
Design4
Quadrapole Source Power

Volume Integral Volumetric
Acoustic Power
Dipole Source Power

Surface Integral of
Surface Acoustic
Power
The data that originally appeared on this page

has been removed.
See SAE paper 2005-01-2495 On Predicting
the Aeroacoustic Performance of Ducts with
Broadband Noise Source Models.
91
SNGR: Example
Experimental Measurements
z Sound spectrum measured at a point 1 m directly
downstream of the ducts outlet
Acknowledgements: Study conducted in collaboration with

Delphi Thermal and Interior Systems
92
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
93
Summary
FLUENT offers a fully integrated, comprehensive aeroacoustics capability.

1. Direct CAA using transient flow solvers
2. FW-H integral method most general acoustic analogy
based method
3. Suite of broadband noise source models
4. Source data export in an universal format to 3rd party
codes (ACTRAN, SYSNOISE)
z Spectral analysis utility (FFT)
z All these can be done within FLUENT
No add on modules necessary
We are committed to offering best-in-class aeroacoustics capability fully integrated to CFD.
94
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
95
Bibliography
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oxford English Dictionary

Pierce AD, Acoustics: An introduction to its physical principles and
applications, Acoustical Society of America, Woodbury, NY (1994)
Hendriana, D., Sovani, S.D., and Scheimann, M., On simulating
passenger car side window buffeting, SAE International Paper 2003-011316 (2003)
An, C.-F., Alaie, S.M., Sovani, S.D., Scislowicz M., Singh, K., Side
window buffeting characteristics of a SUV, Vehicle Aerodynamics, Vol.
SP1874, pp. 43 - 53, SAE International Paper 2004-01-0230 (2004)
Hold R., Brenneis A. Eberle A., Schwarz V., and Siegert R., Numerical
simulation of aeroacoustic sound generated by generic bodies placed on
a plate: Part I Prediction of aeroacoustic sources, AIAA Paper no. 991896, 5th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference, Seattle WA, May 10
12 (1999)
Siegert R., Schwarz V., and Reichenberger J., Numerical simulation of
aeroacoustic sound generated by generic bodies placed on a plate: Part II
Prediction of radiated sound pressure, AIAA Paper no. 99-1895, 5th
AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference, Seattle WA, May 10 12 (1999)
96
Bibliography
7.
Kannan V., Sovani S.D., Greeley, D., and Khondge A., Computational
Aeroacoustics Simulation of Whistle Noise in an Automotive Air-Intake
System, SAE International Paper No. 2005-01-2364 (2005)
8. Fluent Inc., Brochure FLUENT6 for Acoustics Modeling, Lebanon, NH
(2005)
9. Lighthill M. J., On Sound Generated Aerodynamically, I. General Theory,
Proc. Roy. Soc. London, A211, page 564, (1952).
10. Caro S., Ploumhans P. and Gallez X., Implementation of Lighthills
acoustic analogy in a finite/infinite elements framework, 10th AIAA/CEAS
Aeroacoustics Conference, AIAA Paper number 2004-2891 (2004)
11. Lyrintzis A.S., Surface integral methods in computational aeroacoustics
From the (CFD) near-field to the (Acoustic) far-field, International Journal
of Aeroacoustics, vol. 2, pp. 95-128, (2003)
12. Kim S.-E., Dai Y., Koutsavdis E., Sovani S., Kadam N., Ravuri K.M.R., A
versatile implementation of acoustic analogy based noise prediction
method in a general-purpose CFD code, AIAA paper 2003-3202 (2003)
97
Bibliography
13. Ffowcs Williams, J.E. and Hawkins, D.L., Sound generation by
turbulence and surfaces in arbitrary motion, Proceedings of the Royal
Society of London A, vol. 264, pp. 321-342 (1969)
14. Lokhande B.S., Sovani S.D., Xu J., Computational Aeroacoustic Analysis
of a Generic Side View Mirror, SAE Paper 2003-01-1698 (2003)
15. Sovani S.D. and Chen K.-H., Aeroacoustics of an "Automobile" A-Pillar
"Rain Gutter": A Numerical Study with the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings
Method, SAE Paper 2005-01-2492 (2005)
16. Kumarasamy S. and Karbon K., Aeroacoustics of an Automobile A-Pillar
Rain Gutter: Computational and Experimental Study, SAE Paper 199901-1128, (1999)
17. Khondge A.D., Sovani S.D., Kim S.-E., Farag A.A., and Guzy S.C., On
Predicting the Aeroacoustic Performance of Ducts with Broadband Noise
Source Models, SAE Paper 2005-01-2495 (2005)
98
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
z CAA
z FWH Method
99
Simulation Guide: CAA

Mesh:
z Mesh needs to be carefully prepared
z In source region
Mesh edge length =
length scale of turbulent eddies
whose timescale is 1/(max frequency)
z In transmission region
Mesh edge length =
{shortest sound wavelength of interest}/10
Transmission
Region
Source Region
100
Receiver
p(t)
Simulation Guide: CAA

Solution:
z Transient; Compressible
Time step = 1/(max frequency)/10
Run simulation for
total real time = (1/(min frequency))*10
z LES preferred, but not necessary

z Monitor static pressure at microphone location
Pressure vs. Time signal
Take FFT to get SPL spectrum
101
Outline
Simulation Methods
Fundamentals
Variational Methods
Integral Methods
Summary
Bibliography
Simulation Guide
z CAA
z FWH Method
102
Simulation Guide: FWH Method

Mesh:
z Required only in source region
z Needs to be carefully prepared
Mesh edge length =
length scale of turbulent eddies

whose timescale is 1/(max frequency)
z Wall source surfaces

Include all walls that will experience transient
pressure fluctuation
z Interior source surfaces

need to enclose dominant sources and important scattering
surfaces
Quadrupole sources inside permeable source surfaces are
accounted for
Acoustic pressure field needs to be resolved accurately within
the region enclosed by interior source surfaces
103
Mesh
z Interior source surfaces need to completely enclose

dominant sources and important scattering surfaces
wall source
surface
interior source surface
Duct
Interior source surfaces
104
Simulation Procedure
STEP1: Processing
1(A) Setup Fluent case;
Activate FW-H acoustics model
Select Export Acoustic Source Data option

Select source surfaces from available Fluent zones in
Acoustic Sources panel
Specify write frequency
1(B) Run transient simulation
Acoustics source data written in

.index file and
.asd files
105
Simulation Procedure
STEP2: Post-Processing
2(A) Specify receiver locations in Acoustic
Receivers panel
2(B) Read .index and .asd files
Compute/write acoustic signals
pressure vs. time at each receiver
2(C) Use FFT tool
transform acoustic signal to frequency spectrum

PSD vs. frequency
106

1(A) Setup FWH Model
Define Models Acoustics
z Select source data export or simultaneous FW-H calculation
z Set model parameters
Far-field density
Far-field speed of sound
z Set references values for SPL calculation
107
1(A) Setup FWH Model
Define Models Acoustics Sources
z Select all source surfaces

On the fly FW-H calculation requires consistent surface selection at
all time steps
If source data is exported, redundant surfaces may be selected
Allows identification of contributions
from different sources
z For permeable (interior) surfaces,

Fluent requires the specification
of the inner cell zone
z Select write frequency for source
data export
Source data does not need to be
exported every time step
fwh3
108

1(B) Solution
z Transient
Time step = 1/(max frequency)/10
Run simulation for
total real time = (1/(min frequency))*10
z LES preferred, but not necessary
109

2(A) Set receivers
Define Models Acoustics Receivers
z Specify receiver locations

Each receiver generates a signal (.ard) file
Receiver location can be inside or outside the CFD
domain
110

2(B) Compute sound from saved source data
Solve Acoustic Signals
Load .index file

automatically updates the available source data list
Select the source data (.asd files) to be processed

can use subset (in time) of source data
Choose the source zones

(i.e source surfaces) to be
used
Compute/Write calculates
acoustic signal for the
selected receivers and
writes out the receiver
(.ard) files
111
Receiver signal is calculated forward in time

z All sources radiate at emission time
z Signals from different sources arrive at the receiver at different

times
, depending on the source-receiver
t i = + x y i c0
distance
x yi
z Tails of assembled receiver
signal are automatically trimmed
where signal is incomplete (pruning)
Auto-pruning control in TUI
/define/models/acoustics/auto-prune
Raw receiver signal
Auto-pruned signal
112
2(C) Convert sound signal to spectrum

Plot FFT
General FFT utility

z Process receiver data directly
or read any Fluent xy-file
z Y-axis functions:
Power Spectral Density (PSD),
Sound Pressure Level (SPL),
A-, B-, C-Weighted
z X-axis functions:
Frequency,
Strouhal Number,
Fourier Mode,
Octave,
1/3-Octave Band
113

Plot FFT Plot/Modify Input Signal
Allows modification of signal before

subsequent FFT analysis
z Subtract mean value
z Clip to range
z Windowing options
Hamming
Hanning
Barlett
Blackman
Reports signal statistics

z min/max, mean, variance
Plot/Write acoustic signal
114
Original Data
Pruned Data
115

Acoustics Modeling Using Fluent

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Aeroacoustics Modeling

Aeroacoustics Modeling March 18, 2005

z Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR)

Sound has essential characteristics of waves

z Unsteady fluid flow always produces pressure oscillations

Basics: Characteristics of Sound

z Sound waves carry only a tiny fraction of the energy contained

z Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR)

Aeroacoustics simulation essentially involves

z Segregated Source-Propagation Methods (SSPM)

z Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR)

We will discuss each of these methods in detail

z Stochastic Noise Generation and Radiation (SNGR)

z Direct simulation; no models involved

z Solve transient N-S equations to calculate both

z Most straightforward in terms of both implementation

2] Radiation to Far Field

3] Acoustic Pressure Magnitude

z Distance between source(s) and receiver(s)

Region of practical applicability

Increasing Sound Pressure

Region of practical applicability

Distance Between Source and Receiver

z Can account for flow-sound coupling

z Mesh needs to be carefully prepared to capture

CAA: Example1: 1D-Pressure Pulse

Mesh size x = 0.2m, 2/x = 10

Coupled explicit solver, CFL=0.75;

Inviscid, 2nd order upwind

Standard pressure outlet BC

Pressure outlet BC with NRBC

Pulse reflects as expansion

Pulse leaves domain with no

Courtesy: Dr. Thomas Scheidegger

CAA: Example2: Circular Piston

Analytical solution for

Courtesy: Dr. Thomas

CAA: Example2: Circular Piston

Courtesy: Dr. Thomas Scheidegger

160,000 grid points

Analytical solution for

Courtesy: Dr. Thomas

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.

CAA: Example3: Side Window Buffeting

Courtesy: DaimlerChrysler Corp.