Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Noise

Abstract:  

New electric airplanes being developed are part of a new mode of transportation called Urban Air Mobility (UAM). Noise is an important barrier to community acceptance of UAM vehicles. We will review the basic mechanisms for UAM noise generation, i.e. impulsive (due to the rotor’s rotation and aerodynamic interactions) and broadband noise (interactions due to turbulence). Compared to conventional helicopters, the lower tip Mach numbers associated with UAM vehicles change the relative importance of these sources. In addition, UAM vehicles are equipped with multi-rotors, which add aerodynamic interactions that complicate the physics. Furthermore, there is great variety in UAM vehicle configurations, which suggests further problems while offering new possibilities. Finally, we will discuss the effect of the urban environment which is the focus of our current NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) project. In particular, the objectives of this project are to characterize the urban flow, understand the response to disturbances, and develop optimization and control algorithms.

Bio: Professor Lyrintzis has been a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since January 2012. Previously, he was a Professor and Associate Head of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. His primary research interests are in the area of aeroacoustics. His research endeavors have been supported by several federal agencies and industry [total funding ~$12.5 million]. He has co-authored 67 journal papers and 139 conference papers and is listed in the top 2% of scientists for career scholarly impact in several Elsevier lists. He has advised or co-advised 22 Ph.D. and 20 M.S. students. Professor Lyrintzis has been a member of the AIAA Aeroacoustics Technical Committee (vice-chair 2005 – 2007, chair 2007- 2009), the AHS/VFS Acoustics Committee, the AIAA Higher Education Committee, the ASME Coordinating Group for CFD and ADCA (Aerospace Department Chair Association (Chair 2015-17). He has co-organized the 10th (2004) and the 23rd (2017) AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conferences, and he has been an Associate Editor for the AIAA Journal and the International Journal of Aeroacoustics. Finally, Professor Lyrintzis has participated in the development of award-winning (American Helicopter Society, Howard Hughes Award, NASA Group Achievement Award) TRAC (TiltRotor Aeroacoustic Codes) system of codes from NASA Langley, and is a recipient of the 2024 AIAA Sustained Service Award. At Purdue, he was a Faculty Scholar, received the Aeronautics and Astronautics Teaching Award and Research Award, as well as the College of Engineering Leadership Award. Professor Lyrintzis is a registered Professional Engineer, an AIAA Fellow, ASME Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society Fellow, and Boeing Welliver Fellow.