Collective blade pitch angle effect on grid turbulence ingestion noise by an isolated propeller

An experimental aeroacoustic study on the influence of the collective blade pitch angle in the noise emissions by an isolated propeller under different turbulent inflow conditions is presented. Acoustic and aerodynamic measurements are conducted in an anechoic, open-jet wind tunnel facility. Different inflow turbulence characteristics are achieved by employing square-mesh, square-bar turbulence grids positioned ahead of an additional 2:1 contraction at the wind tunnel's exit. It is found that the ingestion of grid-generated turbulence does not significantly impact the thrust produced by the propeller for any of the tested collective blade pitch angles. On the other hand, turbulence ingestion greatly increases noise production in both broadband and tonal components. The grouping of broadband noise around the Blade Passing Frequency (BPF) and its harmonics ("haystacking'') does not prove to be a phenomenon of particular relevance in grid-generated turbulence ingestion. A directivity analysis shows that an increase in inflow turbulence intensity is responsible for increased noise emissions downstream of the propeller.