An Empirical Wall-Pressure Spectrum Model for Aeroacoustic Predictions Based on Symbolic Regression
This work addresses noise prediction for aeroacoustic design optimization, but it is incremental as it builds on existing Amiet's theory with a new empirical model.
The paper tackled the problem of predicting airfoil trailing-edge noise by developing a new wall-pressure spectrum model using AI-based symbolic regression, which improved robustness and accuracy, validated against experimental data and applied to a full-scale wind turbine with good agreement.
Fast-turn around methods to predict airfoil trailing-edge noise are crucial for incorporating noise limitations into design optimization loops of several applications. Among these aeroacoustic predictive models, Amiet's theory offers the best balance between accuracy and simplicity. The accuracy of the model relies heavily on precise wall-pressure spectrum predictions, which are often based on single-equation formulations with adjustable parameters. These parameters are calibrated for particular airfoils and flow conditions and consequently tend to fail when applied outside their calibration range. This paper introduces a new wall-pressure spectrum empirical model designed to enhance the robustness and accuracy of current state-of-the-art predictions while widening the range of applicability of the model to different airfoils and flow conditions. The model is developed using AI-based symbolic regression via a genetic-algorithm-based approach, and applied to a dataset of wall-pressure fluctuations measured on NACA 0008 and NACA 63018 airfoils at multiple angles of attack and inflow velocities, covering turbulent boundary layers with both adverse and favorable pressure gradients. Validation against experimental data (outside the training dataset) demonstrates the robustness of the model compared to well-accepted semi-empirical models. Finally, the model is integrated with Amiet's theory to predict the aeroacoustic noise of a full-scale wind turbine, showing good agreement with experimental measurements.