Applicability of Fly Neighborly Noise Recommendations to UAM Quadrotors Undergoing Steady Maneuvers

This initial study examines whether the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Fly Neighborly operational recommendations that are based on single main rotor/tail rotor configurations will hold for non-conventional UAM rotorcraft with multiple rotors. The 6-occupant quadrotor concept vehicle designed under the NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project is studied. The tip speed is 550 ft/sec, with three blades per rotor (“550/3”). Predictions are made for three steady maneuvers: level turns, descending turns, and climbing turns. The RVLT Toolchain is exercised using CAMRAD II, pyaaron/AARON/ANOPP2 and a beta version of AMAT (ANOPP2 Mission Analysis Tool). AMAT provides functionality to acoustically model the curved flight paths associated with maneuvers. In addition to quadrotor trim and performance, this study includes analysis of azimuthal variations of the vertical blade loading and its derivative in the form of contour plots on a rotor plane and line plots at one radial location (r/R=0.765). Quadrotor noise trends are analyzed using maximum Overall Sound Pressure Level (OASPL) and Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL). The Fly Neighborly guideline that addresses descents (“Level turns are quieter than descending turns”) is predicted to hold for the RVLT Quadrotor as well.