On the noise prediction for serrated leading edges

An analytical model is developed for the prediction of noise radiated by an aerofoil with leading-edge serration in a subsonic turbulent stream. The model makes use of Fourier expansion and Schwarzschild techniques in order to solve a set of coupled differential equations iteratively and express the far-field sound power spectral density in terms of the statistics of incoming turbulent upwash velocity. The model has shown that the primary noise-reduction mechanism is due to the destructive interference of the scattered pressure induced by the leading-edge serrations. It has also shown that in order to achieve significant sound reduction, the serration must satisfy two geometrical criteria related to the serration sharpness and hydrodynamic properties of the turbulence. A parametric study has been carried out and it is shown that serrations can reduce the overall sound pressure level at most radiation angles, particularly at small aft angles. The sound directivity results have also shown that the use of leading-edge serration does not significantly change the dipolar pattern of the far-field noise at low frequencies, but it changes the cardioid directivity pattern associated with radiation from straight-edge scattering at high frequencies to a tilted dipolar pattern.