An Experimental Study of Helicopter Rotor Impulsive Noise

Abstract
Results of a study of helicopter rotor impulsive noise (RIN) are presented. Rotor noise, together with rotor blade dynamic and pressure data, was measured during hover and cruise of a CH-53A helicopter for use in a correlation study of calculated and measured noise. In addition, the rotor rotational noise analysis described in U. S. Army Aviation Materiel Laboratories (USAAVLABS) technical Report 70-1B was modified to reduce computation time and to include blade flapping and coning motions. The inclusion of these motions, however, is shown to have little effect on the predicted noise. Correlation of calculated and measured noise harmonic amplitudes is generally within 5 dB through the third harmonic at distances less than 1000 feet in front of the helicopter. Waveform correlation of calculated and measured time histories of acoustic pressure is good. RIN is identified as being primarily a rotational noise phenomenon, ordered at the blade passage frequency and its harmonics, rather than amplitude modulated broadband noise. Hover RIN is shown to be due to vortex interference (blade/wake interaction RIN), while cruise RIN is shown to be due to the combination of acoustic effects of a high subsonic tip Mach number on wave propagation and blade drag, and is referred to as advancing blade RIN.

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