Experimental analysis on the noise of propellers for small UAV

Main goal of this paper is an experimental analysis on the aeroacoustic features of propellers aimed at the propulsion of small unmanned aerial vehicles. The investigation concerns the comparison between the acoustic signature of optimized and conventional propellers driven by brushless electric motors. This topic is particularly relevant due to the dramatic increase of the UAV market for civil and military purposes with multiple operational issues. The quietness and the efficiency of the propulsive system are key aspects in the design of advanced aerial vehicles and very often can lead to the success or failure of the mission. In addition to the experimental research, a numerical analysis based on the compact formulation of the Ffowcs-Williams/Hawking equation and a simple model for the broadband noise, is presented and discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.