Noise due to rotor-turbulence interaction

A procedure for calculating the noise due to turbulent inflow to a propeller or helicopter rotor in hover is summarized. The method is based on a calculation of noise produced by an airfoil moving in rectilinear motion through turbulence. At high frequency the predicted spectrum is broadband, while at low frequency the spectrum is peaked around multiples of blade passage frequency. The results of a parametric study of the variation of the noise with rotor tip speed, blade number, chord, turbulence scale, and directivity angle are given. A comparison of the theory with preliminary experimental measurements shows good agreement.