On the Evolution of a System of Shock Waves Created by Engine Fan Blades

Abstract

One source of modern aircraft engine noise is the fan, which is especially noticeable during takeoff at high angular rotation speeds. In such modes, supersonic flow around the fan blades occurs, which leads to the formation of shock waves that propagate upstream until they exit the engine duct. As a result, specific noise is emitted into the front hemisphere, consisting of a number of harmonics that are multiples of the fan rotation frequency. The paper analyzes this effect using a simple model of the propagation of a system of shock waves. An energy approach is used to demonstrate that a system of shock waves with shocks of equal amplitude attenuates the most rapidly.