Tactical Airplane Noise Reduction via Advanced Automated Computational Airframe Aft-End Integration Technologies Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Topic No.: N142-099 Topic Title: Tactical Airplane Noise Reduction via Advanced Automated Computational Airframe Aft-End Integration Technologies Proposal No.: N142-099-0019 Firm: ATA Engineering, Inc 13290 Evening Creek Drive South Suite 250 San Diego, California 92128-4695 Contact: Parthiv Shah Phone: (858) 480-2101 Web Site: www.ata-e.com Abstract: ATA Engineering proposes a Phase I SBIR project to demonstrate and validate a tactical aircraft noise reduction capability associated with active shaping of the airplane/engine nozzle interface region during forward flight operations. The current proposal addresses a gap in knowledge between noise reduction device performance in installed, forward flight conditions versus uninstalled, static conditions. ATA will apply advanced CFD and noise prediction models, coupled with experimental noise measurements, to design novel technologies that exploit the external flow environment in the vicinity of the nozzle for at least two community noise relevant operating conditions. In the course of evaluating and maximizing the effectiveness of the capability, the ATA team will develop a series of analytical tools tied together in a common framework that integrate performance and noise predictions from CFD simulations of the flow from the exhaust plume and around the aircraft, and drive a parametric geometry model of noise reduction hardware. The results will be used to intelligently define the geometry parameters to be considered for subsequent design iterations. Beyond Phase I the validation and maturation of the tools may be applied to a more formalized multidisciplinary design optimization framework to arrive at new designs in an automated way. Benefits: The expected outcome of the Phase I effort is both 1) a determination of how external flow non-uniformities may be manipulated/exploited to reduce noise and 2) establishment of a framework for a tool to produce new designs that exploit these physics for a legacy tactical aircraft/nozzle configuration to achieve reduced noise levels (>3dBs) for two points in the mission envelope without adversely impacting other critical aerodynamic performance parameters. The ultimate goal will be define an MDO framework to autonomously adjust and evaluate geometric details of notional aircraft or nozzles while considering resultant performance changes across disciplines. Both military and commercial aircraft programs are under increasing pressure to improve performance and durability and reduce noise. The developed tool will be an enabler in the design of future airframes and nozzles that must meet these goals. It will be applicable to airframe and engine components on next-generation military aircraft platforms and existing and future commercial aircraft. ATA will explore several means of commercializing the technologies and toolset developed in the project, including 1) licensing or sale of innovative noise reduction concepts, 2) application of specialized engineering services to noise reduction designs, and 3) licensing or sale of analysis tools. Return