An Anechoic Aeroacoustic Test Facility

Abstract : The University of Florida has completed the construction of an advanced aeroacoustics testbed to facilitate both existing and future Air Force/DoD research projects. The proposed facility consists of a versatile anechoic chamber processing a test volume of 18'0'L x 16' 6" W x 7' 8" H and a low-frequency cutoff of 100 Hz. The facility leverages a recently completed high-pressure air facility to provide supersonic (and subsonic) jet flows. In addition, the chamber has removable floor wedges to provide either anechoic or semi-anechoic test environments. The facility is equipped with a 5 DOF traverse to allow a myrid of detailed flow, noise, and vibration measurements. In particular, the experimental capabilities of this facility include flow measurements via PIV, LDV, and hot-wire anemometry, automated sound-intensity mapping and source localization capabilities via beam forming arrays, and complete surface vibration characterization vibrometry. The facility provides a unique capability to study fundamental aeroacoustic problems and structure-borne noise phenomena. The uniqueness stems from the combination of a low cutoff frequency (100 Hz), large chamber size, a high-speed flow capability, the ability to switch between a semi-and fully-anechoic chamber, and advanced instrumentation flow, acoustic, and vibration measurements. Most existing anechoic chambers, particularly the few available at universities, have only some of these features, thereby limiting their utility.