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MARINE PROPULSOR NOISE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE
HYDROACOUSTIC WATER TUNNEL “G.T.H.”
D.Fréchou, C.Dugué, L.Briançon-Marjollet, P.Fournier, M.Darquier, L Descotte, L.Merle
(Bassin d'Essais des Carènes, Chaussée du Vexin, 27100 Val de Reuil, France)
1. ABSTRACT
Since its first use in 1988, the Grand Tunnel Hydrodynamique (G.T.H.) has proved that it is a rather unique
experimental facility to conduct innovative experiments to improve the design of ship propulsors specially with regard to
cavitation and hydroacoustic performances. This paper presents a review of the experimental capabilities of the tunnel and
of the measuring techniques used, with emphasis on the significant advance in propulsor noise investigations obtained from
the model tests performed in this facility.
2. INTRODUCTION
For several years now, the noise reduction has been a major goal for the hydrodynamic/hydroacoustic studies not only
on Navy ships, but also on ships like oceanographic or seismic research vessels and cruise liners. From a general
standpoint, three domains of interest [Aucher, 1996] can be distinguished:
• the flow noise which is the wall pressure fluctuations induced either by turbulence or travelling bubbles or
breaking of waves, which decreases the performance of a sonar system.
• the radiated noise in the far field (≈100m) of a ship which is related to the fluctuating hydrodynamic forces on the
rotating blades of the propeller and on the hull, as well as to the fluctuating forces on hull induced by the
propeller. These fluctuating forces lead to different types of noise as shown in Figure 1:
– a discrete frequency lines noise type at low frequencies range which correspond to noise radiation from the
propeller and the hull excited by the propeller either directly through the blade passage closed to the hull or
through the shaft bearings. The discrete frequency lines correspond to the blade revolution rate harmonic (k n Z)
and their amplitudes are directly dependent on the hull wake in-homogeneity and propeller geometry (number of
blades, skew angle…),
– a discrete frequency lines noise at shaft rate harmonics might also occurs if the shaft line presents a mechanical
problem (shaft alignment or torsion, gearing mal-performance…) and if there are differences between blades
geometry or blades pitch setting or blades elasticity,
– a discrete frequency lines noise type at medium frequencies range which results from the hull radiation excited by
all the internal machinery of the ship (motor, reduction gear assembly…),
– a discrete frequency lines noise type, at medium frequencies ranges, known as “propeller singing” which results
from the fluid-structure interaction at the trailing edgs of the propeller blades [Blake, 1977],
– a broad band noise at low, medium and high frequencies range which results from the fluctuating hydrodynamic
forces on hull induced by the hull boundary layer
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turbulence and from the fluctuating forces on blades induced by the inflow turbulence of the wake ([Jonson,
1995], [Kirshner & al, 1993], [Manoha, 1998]). The broad band noise is highly increased as soon as the cavitation
is appearing (high loading on blade at maximum ship speed or under trawling operations). As cavitation is
developing, the medium frequencies range then the low frequencies range are concerned and the blade rate
frequency lines amplitude level are also increased because the hull excitation is increased [Baiter, 1992].
• the radiated noise inside the ship which more concerns the passengers cabins of cruise liners ([Holland & Wong,
1995], [Raestad, 1996]). The generation of this noise is related to the propeller induced hull excitation and the
response of the hull to this excitation (transfer function of the hull).
Figure 1: Sound pressure level radiated by ship with cavitating and non cavitating propeller
With regard to the ship radiated noise in the far field, it is necessary not only to investigate the propeller radiated noise
but also the hull radiated noise. The investigation of the later one is generally difficult to make using experiments on model
of the ship (hull & propeller) at reduced scale. The main reason is that the hull model and shaft arrangement are often
difficult to manufacture with the same mechanical structure as at full scale. Nevertheless, if the model hull is stiff enough,
it is possible to investigate the propeller induced hull excitation, by measuring the fluctuating forces induced on hull by the
propeller either directly or through the shaft bearing. These hull fluctuating forces can be then introduced as inlet data of
computational vibro-acoustics codes, for hull vibration and radiated noise prediction. This means that from model scale
experiments in tunnel, we can only investigate differences in radiated noise from different propellers and that it is not
possible to really forecast the ship radiated noise. Indeed, the radiated noise inside the ship cannot be predicted from model
tests alone.
For propeller radiated noise investigations, the similarity conditions summarized in Table 1 compel to make propeller
tests at model scale:
• with the right wake field as at full scale. This means to have a facility with large test section in which the complete
or modified (dummy) hull model can be used, and with high flow speed to overcome the viscous scale effect
between model scale and full scale on the hull boundary layer development,
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• with the same material (same mechanical structure) as full scale for the propeller and with a flow speed equal to
the full scale ship speed,
• with the same local pressure on blade (the flow velocity is equal to the ship speed) and with nuclei control for
cavitation similarity,
• with a facility that allows a very low “minimum measurable noise source level”.
We should keep in mind that these similarity laws are only for a ship in calm water. Additional similarity laws are
needed for ship in waves.
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Table 1: Summary of the similarity laws for hydroacoustic tests on ship model
Similarity Non dimensional parameter Implications
Geometrical similarity geometry, P/D for controllable pitch the accuracy of the propeller geometry is
propeller specially important for the blade profile
(leading edge, trailing edge and blade tip).
A minimum model scale ratio is then
required.
Wake similarity (effective wake) impossible to keep equal but necessary to
be higher than 5 107 .
(i.e. advance ratio similarity) Vx/V, Vt/
V, Vr/V the complete hull model (at least the
scaled after body of the hull) is needed for
a good simulation of the effective wake.
Viscous flow on the propeller blades Reynolds number has to be as high as
similarity possible because it is impossible to keep
equal to full scale.
Similarity of propeller loading It ensures same average blade loading
even if there are slight differences between
model and full scale pitches and hull
wakes.
Cavitation similarity The pressure p is taken in the vertical
plane of the propeller at 0.7R above the
shaft axis, in order to take into account the
scale effect on the hydrostatic pressure in
the propeller plane if the Froude similarity
is not kept.
Froude similarity This similarity is not compatible with the
Reynolds number similarity. Model test at
higher flow speed than the Froude speed
generally prevails.
Acoustic & Structural similarity To have similar elastic bending and modal
(structural vibration and induced vibrations:
acoustic radiation) same material and same mechanical
structure
same fluid (water)
same flow speed at model scale and
full scale
This is possible for the propeller but it is
very difficult to extend to the hull and
shaft line.
Additional requirements – no hydrodynamic blockage effect This mainly concerns the characteristics of
– free field like acoustic propagation the facility.
– free surface
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3. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE G.T.H.
The GTH is a closed circuit tunnel of demineralised and decarbonated water fully comparable to wind tunnel. We
recall hereby the principal characteristics of the GTH which have been already largely detailed ([Lecoffre & al, 1987]).
Figure 2: Overview of the test sections of the GTH
Figure 3: C ross section of the large test section and the small test section
• Two test sections are available with large Plexiglas windows (33 in the large tests section and 21 in the small test
section) that give a high visibility on model. While one test section is in use, model preparation can be done on the
second test section, as each test section can be isolated using closing doors located upstream and downstream the
test sections. The small test section (dimensions: 1.14m x 1.14m x 6m) is more dedicated to studies at very high
speed and the large test section (dimensions: 2m x 1.35m x 10m) is more dedicated to propeller with complete
hull tests.
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• The water velocity and pressure are continuously variable: [0
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tunnel is uncoupled from the building itself by means of vibration absorbers. Finally, the vibration level of the
tunnel is less than 1mm/s2.
– noise from the main pump: The 10 blades rotor axial pump has been designed to be free of cavitation and to have a
low shaft revolution rate even at high speeds and low ambient pressure conditions for both test sections. The water
lubricated bearing has also been designed to ensure laminar flow in the chambers.
– noise from machinery: Piping and auxiliary pumps have been structurally isolated from the tunnel. They are
gathered with the motor and reduction gear of the pump, in the engine room with concrete walls and ceiling that
isolated the main building of 40dB from airborne noise.
– noise from nuclei production: the nuclei production is generating noise at high frequencies (f>1kHz). This noise
is not critical for radiated noise measurements of a cavitating propeller. However, this noise is troublesome for
radiated noise measurements of a non cavitating propeller. In order to get rid of this problem, the propeller noise
testing procedure includes at first a determination of the cavitating domain (σn, Kt, P/D) of the propeller using the
nuclei injection, then a noise measurement with nuclei injection for propeller operating conditions with cavitation,
and finally a noise measurement without nuclei injection for propeller operating conditions without cavitation.
4. MODEL EQUIPMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION FOR THE G.T.H.
4.1 Model equipme nt
The table in Appendix I summarizes the different model test configurations in both test sections. We should emphasize
some of this arrangements:
• The models are as much as possible supported by the top cover of the test sections, so that the mounting and the
preliminary tests of the instrumentation is done outside the test section. Specific top covers are available for
surface ship and underwater vehicle (submarine, torpedo, AUV…). Any of the Plexiglas windows can be replaced
by acoustic windows (sound absorbing lining window or hydrophone array window) or a 6 components force
balance for foils window.
• The shaft driving system for propulsors tested with the ship hull (propeller diameter of 200mm–300mm and hull
overall length of 4m–9m) is done by an immersed AC electric motor (10kW-3200rpm) for the non acoustic tests
and by hydraulic turbines (Type I: 45kW-5000rpm; Type II: 50kW-2000rpm) for acoustic tests. As a matter of
fact, it is important not to lower the hydroacoustic quality of the tunnel by using noisy shaft driving system. The
use of hydraulic axial and multi-stage turbines provides several advantages compared to mechanical and electrical
motor. The frequency line type noise (gearing noise, ball bearing noise, electromagnetic noise) is significantly
reduced by the high number of stages and blades on rotor and stator, and the use of water lubricated bearing. The
broad band noise is largely lower than the one of the propulsor mounted because the flow speed is low in the
turbine and the pressurization and the deaeration of the hydraulic circuit make the turbine free of cavitation.
Finally, due to the small size of the turbine, sound absorbing linings around the turbine contribute to lower down
the broad band radiated noise.
• Tests of large scale propellers and contra-rotating propeller (D>400mm) in open water or behind dummy hull
model are done using a 2 coaxial shafts driving system with an external electrical motor
(250kW-5000rpm-2x500daN-2x25m.daN) that can be inclined of ±10°.
• For acoustic studies of large scale propellers and pump-jet, a silent shaft driving system is used with a high power
hydraulic turbine (530kW-1500rpm-4000daN).
4.2 Instrume ntation
• Data acquisition systems
Every type of measurements has its own data acquisition system: forces measurement on shaft (including the angular
position of the shaft and the revolution rate measurements), forces measurement on appendages (including the angular
position of the appendage), static pressures measurement on model, Laser velocimetry measurement, acoustic-vibration-
fluctuating forces measurement. Each data acquisition system acquires the flow conditions in the test section (speed,
pressure, temperature, air
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content level, nuclei injection settings). In addition, an Ethernet network makes the communication between data
acquisition systems very easy.
• Cavitation images re cording
Cavitation images on models are recorded with standard video cameras and with stroboscopic lights.
Figure 5: Visualization and video recording arrangement for cavitation on rotating propeller
The strobe lights are triggered with a shaft encoder signal that allows selecting a given blade angular position. The
operating flow conditions (speed, pressure, shaft revolution, blade angular position) are directly fitted into the video
images. Two views are at least recorded: either two cameras looking at the suction side of the blade from both side of the
test section, or one camera looking at the suction side of the blade from one side of the test section and a second camera
looking at the pressure side of the blade from the same side of the test section. The radiated noise is recorded on the audio
channel of the video tape.
The cavitation images can be digitized and analyzed through numerical image processing algorithms [Godefroy & al,
1998] in order to obtain statistical information on the 2D dimensions of the cavitation and location on the blade surface at
different angular positions.
• Fluctuating forces on shaft measurement
- Mean thrust and torque measurements:
In house designed dynamometers are mounted on propeller shaft for mean thrust and torque measurements. These
dynamometers use strain gauges technology sensors and special design to minimize cross-talk between torque and thrust
measurements sections. They are also able to work at low pressure level (5kPa) and high shaft revolution rate
(n=5000rpm). However, this type of dynamometer is not able to measure time-dependent thrust and torque.
- Fluctuating thrust measurements:
For the fluctuating thrust measurement, an unsteady thrust dynamometer (Figure 6) is integrated in the shaft closed to
the propeller hub. This dynamometer is similar to the one developed at ARL Penn State [Jonson, 1995].
Figure 6: Thrust fluctuation measurements
The sensor is a piezoelectric crystal that provides a high stiffness mounted on the shaft centerline with steel
hemisphere to be insensitive to side forces and bending. The crystal is pre-loaded so that thrust fluctuation in both axial
directions can be measured. Because of the high stiffness of the crystal, this technique is able to measure very low thrust
fluctuations (∆T/T≪1%). The shaft mass is at least 10 times higher than the propeller mass in order to obtain an impedance
break. A pre-amplification of the piezoelectric signal is included in the shaft before the slip ring transmission to increase the
signal to noise ratio. Within the frequency bandwidth obtained that goes up to 1kHz, there are inevitably resonant
frequencies of the whole shaft (between propeller and drive motor) that can be considered as a multiple lumped-mass-
spring system. This is the reason why a force calibration is made using a dynamic force shaker at zero rpm of the shaft.
From the acquisition of the thrust triggered by the shaft encoder signal, a synchronous analysis is made to sort the
frequency lines related to the shaft revolution rate and its harmonics, and the propeller inflow spatial periodicity. It is then
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possible to compare the effect of different propellers geometry or different wakes fields on the same propeller.
This fluctuating thrust measurements are the first step to investigate the differences that one could expect on sound
pressure level at the blade rate frequency and its harmonics, and further more on broad band noise related to wake
turbulence interaction with the propeller blades.
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• Fluctuating forces on hull measureme nt
Fluctuating forces on the hull induced by the blade passage closed to the hull are measured by a pressure transducers
array. About 20 transducers are flush mounted on the hull surface just above the propeller plane. The afterbody of ship
model is stiffened using glass reinforced plastic in order to measure only the hull excitation and not the excitation with the
response of the hull.
Figure 7: Hull pressure transducers arrangement on stiffened hull with a cavitating propeller of an oceanographic vessel
The pressure signals acquisition are triggered by a 2048 pulses shaft encoder. A spectrum analysis is then process on
the pressure signal in order to get the pressure amplitude at the blade rate frequency and its harmonics. As for the
fluctuating thrust measurements, the hull pressure transducers are of piezoelectric type (equivalent to hydrophone
transducers). These transducers measure only the unsteady part of the pressure but with a high signal to noise ratio (>80dB)
compared to classical pressure transducers such as strain gauge type. This is necessary when we want to look at the high
harmonics pressure amplitude without any cavitation on the propeller or to compare the hull excitation of two propellers
geometry. From the spatial integration of the pressure amplitude, the resulting fluctuating forces and moments on the hull
are calculated with reference to a given co-ordinate system.
• Acoustic measurement
For radiated noise measurements in closed-jet type hydrodynamic tunnel, three major effects have to be taken into
consideration: hydrophone support vibration isolation, turbulent flow noise isolation and acoustic impedance between the
noise source (propeller) and the hydrophone.
Figure 8: Radiated sound measurements (hydrophone plug and streamlined hydrophone fairing)
The principal acoustical techniques (Figure 8) used in the GTH were designed to overcome these problems:
– hydrophone plugs for the radiated noise in the cross section of the main flow. These hydrophone plugs are flush
mounted and are made up of a standard hydrophone in a box filled with polyurethane coating. The polyurethane
elastomer, the box dimensions and the location of the hydrophone relative to the internal wall of the tunnel were
chosen in order to provide both vibration isolation from wall structure accelerations and attenuation of turbulence
near field wall pressures. Concerning flow induced pressure fluctuations, the hydrodynamic wave lengths are so
short that the hydrophone plug dimensions is doing a spatial filtering of the turbulent boundary layer pressure
fluctuations. As a matter of fact, the effective wave length of these pressure, i.e. (l≈0.7V/f with V≤20m/s), are at
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least 100 time shorter than the acoustic wave length from the source (l≈c/f with c=l450m/s).
– one streamlined hydrophone for measuring noise from downstream the model. This hydrophone is made up of a
piezoelectric sensing element inside a shell head
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manufactured in polyurethane coating. The nose geometry of the head shell, in some way similar to sonar dome, is
designed to develop a stable laminar boundary layer which is not sensitive to changes in turbulence level or
direction of the upstream flow.
Using different measurement techniques, we should keep in mind that closed-jet test sections are not free-field
environment. The large difference of acoustic impedance between water and the ensemble air-Plexiglas-stainless steel of
the tunnel structure make different sound power propagation depending on the frequency we want to look at. In a short cut,
we can say that for a noise source located on the test section axis, the propagation is of plane wave type at low frequencies
(wave length higher than the characteristic length scale of the test section, which are propagating in the test section axis
direction) and of spherical wave type at high frequencies (wave length lower than the characteristic length scale of the test
section). In order to reduce the reverberation at high frequencies, two sound absorbing lining windows have been built. In
order to assess these acoustic “blockage” effects, acoustic calibration are made using a known sound source located on the
test section axis, and with water tunnel velocity equal to zero. The complex transfer function to apply to the received
acoustic signal at the measurement system is then identified provided that the coherence between the received signal and
the source signal is close to one.
The acoustic data acquisition system is able to process 32 analog input signals at a sampling rate of 2 MHz, and with a
14-bit words analog to digital converters and anti-aliasing filters. Standard and specific data processing tools are available
such as: auto-spectrum and cross-spectrum analysis, joint time-frequency analysis, harmonic analysis, frequency
demodulation, frequency line detection algorithm, coherence analysis…
• Vibration measurement
For noise investigations related to flow induced structural vibrations, coherence analysis is performed from noise
signals and vibration signals. For specific tests with model manufactured (foil, ducted propeller) and tested according to the
hydroelastic similarity (i.e. same flow speed as full scale and same mechanical structure between model and full scale), the
model response to the flow excitation is measured using standard accelerometers. The main drawback using standard
accelerometers is that the volume needed for the accelerometer location in the model can locally change the structure
response of the model. The use of Laser vibrometer (Polytec) enables to get rid of this problem on small scale models
[Serander & al, 1994].
Furthermore vibration measurements on the hull model and on the shaft line elements can warn the test operator about
any troublesome noise resulting from unexpected performances of those parts of the test arrangement.
5. HYDROACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES OF THE GTH
5.1 Kine tic performances of the flow:
• Owing to the contraction ratio of the convergent, and the honeycomb and flow straighteners of the test sections, the
boundary layer are of 40mm at the inlet of the test sections and of 100mm at the outlet of the test sections. The
turbulence level (ratio of RMS velocity and mean velocity) is of 0.3% over the flow speed range (0–20 m/s). This
turbulence level is measured in the frequency range of 1 Hz–1kHz with a 2D Laser Doppler Velocimeter enhanced
in order to get a signal to noise ratio less than 0.2% (forward scattering mode used without the Bragg cell for
frequency shift).
• The spatial distribution of the local mean velocity in the cross section of the test sections except the boundary
layer area is not very large for the maximum discrepancy is less than 0.2%.
5.2 Deaeration and cavitation nuclei control performances:
• Deaeration process from an air content of 100% of the saturation at atmospheric pressure (⇔24mg/liter) to an air
content of 30% of the saturation at atmospheric pressure (⇔7mg/liter) is done within 2 hours. It is then possible to
carry out the deaeration process as soon as it is necessary, which is not the case of most of the hydrodynamic
tunnels. As a matter of fact, degassing a tunnel like the GTH without microbubbles injection and without a
bubbles separating tank, can take more than 12 hours. Standard air content for cavitation and acoustics tests is
7mg/liter.
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• The nuclei content control is compulsory in hydrodynamic tunnel dedicated to cavitation studies [Cavitation
Committee Report of 20th ITTC, 1993]. The injection process (flow rate, water gassing pressure, number of
injectors in use over the 121 available ones) is able to control the nuclei content from 0.1 nuclei/cm3 up to few tens
nuclei/cm3 with an average diameter of 50µm. Several studies (for instance [Gindroz & Billet, 1993]) have
confirmed the merit of the nuclei control of the GTH for cavitation tests.
5.3 Hydroacoustic performance s:
• Minimum measurable sound source level
The minimum measurable sound source level in a tunnel is defined [Abbot & al, 1993] as the minimum level of an
equivalent sound source to the propulsor, which can be measured by the acoustic receiver, in the same flow operating
conditions as with propulsor (i.e. noise source located at the same location as the propulsor, same flow speed and pressure
and same air content and nuclei content). The minimum measurable sound source level is then related on one hand to the
background noise of the tunnel and/or to the background noise of the acoustic receiver, and on the other hand to the transfer
function G between the source and the receiver. For frequencies range in which the propagation is a free field type
(f>1kHz), the transfer function gain was found to be close to a spherical spreading loss. This leads to a minimum
measurable sound source level defined as:
The background noise of the GTH (See Appendix II and Figures 9 & 10) is mainly dependent on the flow speed,
provided that the air content is low enough.
The background noise measured with the streamlined hydrophone is lower in the low frequencies range because of the
laminar boundary layer developed on the head form of the hydrophone but it is also lower in the high frequencies range
because of the low background noise of the hydrophone sensing element.
Figure 10: Background noise of the large test section
measured with the streamlined hydrophone
Figure 9: Background noise of the large test section
measured with the hydrophone plug
Even if the sound pressure level of a propeller measured at model scale and extrapolated to full scale do not account
for the hull amplification because the model hull is not in mechanical similarity to full scale, we can still compare after
extrapolation (given a model scale 1/20 and a test flow speed Vmodel) a propeller radiated sound pressure level measured in
the GTH that would be equivalent to the minimum measurable sound level (background noise), with a target sound pressure
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level of the full scale ship noise. We took the example of a target sound level of an oceanographic research vessel at a speed
of 12 knots. The graph of figure 11 clearly points out the capabilities of the GTH for the hydroacoustic studies of
propulsors. The limitation at frequency below 3Hz is not critical because the propeller blade rate frequency line is always
higher and the propeller broad band signature is in the frequency range where the margin is more than 30 dB.
Figure 11: Extrapolated minimum equivalent free field sound power density spectrum for a ship with a full scale speed of
12 knots, a model scale of 1/20 and a model test at flow speed of 6m/s
The extrapolation law applied on the minimum measurable sound pressure level is using the assumption that the
measured sound power density level is only dependent on speed (flow speed at model scale and ship speed at full scale), on
the distance in between the source and the receiver, on the scale ratio:
- for a cavitating propeller
- and for a non cavitating propeller
• Shaft driving motor noise
The minimum measurable sound level of the tunnel should also take into account the background noise of the shaft
driving motor. Using hydraulic turbine as shaft driving motor avoids degradation of the hydroacoustic performances of the
GTH.
Figure 12 shows that the background noise of a shaft driving motor using hydraulic turbine is lower than the
background noise of the tunnel for a given flow speed in the small test section. It then becomes possible to measure the
propeller sound radiated without any cavitation, which is impossible with standard electrical motors.
Figure 12: Sound power density level using hydraulic turbine in the small test section of the GTH
6. SOME RESULTS OF HYDROACOUSTIC SURVEYS IN GTH
Several studies have been carried out in the GTH that emphasize the hydroacoustic performances of the GTH. We
present hereafter some examples of these studies: study on the flow noise of transient and turbulent boundary layer, study
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on propeller induced fluctuating forces on shaft, study of cavitation effect on propeller induced fluctuating pressure on hull,
noise radiated on propeller.
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• Flow noise of transient and turbulent boundary layer
In order to investigate the instability of laminar boundary layer on a sonar dome, an experiment was carried out on a
laminar boundary with a pressure distribution with negative gradient. The boundary layer development was made on a flat
plate on which flush mounted transducers were installed and a second plate with an appropriate geometry was used to force a
negative pressure gradient along the flow axis (Figure 13) on the first plate. In total, 17 fluctuating pressure transducers
flush mounted with a pinhole of 0.1mm diameter, 3 hot film sensors for wall shear stress measurements were used and
velocity profile was measured using Laser Doppler velocimeter in forward scattering mode. Thanks to the very low
turbulence level and the very low background noise of the tunnel, a laminar boundary layer of 1.8m at flow speed of 10m/s
(i.e. to Reynolds number of 18 106), was achieved in this experiment and the sensitivity of different roughness heights on
the boundary layer stability has been studied [Perraud & al, 1995].
Figure 13: Test set-up for boundary layer development with an adverse pressure gradient
• Propelle r ope rating condition with and without cavitation
Before investigating the radiated noise of a propeller, it is important to know the domain of operating conditions of the
propeller with and without cavitation. As a matter of fact, the presence of cavitation even at the inception point induces
large increases of the radiated noise and the fluctuating forces on hull and on the shaft. Model tests are therefore performed
to explore different operating conditions of the propeller (i.e. to different Kt, σn, P/D). The nuclei content has then a major
effect on the determination of the cavitating and non cavitating domains of the propeller operating conditions [Gindroz &
Billet, 1993]. The figure 14 shows a comparison between model scale and full scale of inception point of tip vortex
cavitation on a marine propeller.
Figure 14: Comparison between full scale and model scale of cavitation inception points
This comparison can only be done if the similarity of the loading of the propeller blades are the same. This means that
not only the global loading should be equivalent (Ktm=KtFS) but also the radial distribution of blades loading should be
equivalent. The later requirement imposes to have a hull wake field similarity between model and full scale. Cordier & al
[1995] showed that the similarity of the wake field is rather well predicted if model tests are run at flow speed equal to ship
speed rather than if model tests are run at Froude speed.
• Fluctuating forces on shaft: fluctuating thrust on a submarine propeller
The wake field is largely modified when a ship is maneuvering and so it is for the radiated noise at blade rate
harmonics frequencies. The fluctuating thrust modification, when changing of course, gives a good approximation of
radiated noise modification at blade rate harmonics frequencies. Figure 15 presents the results of fluctuating thrust
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measurements at first and second blade rate harmonics frequencies for a propeller of submarine tested at two drift angle 0° &
10°, in the large test section of the GTH. The measurements were done using the set-up described in the instrumentation
paragraph. The drift angle largely increases the fluctuating thrust and the residual fluctuating thrust with a bare hub instead
of the propeller is far lower. Therefore, it is possible to predict that the radiated noise at these frequencies will increase of
the same level.
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Figure 15: Fluctuating thrust on propeller shaft for 2 drift angles of a submarine
• Propelle r induced fluctuating pressure on hull: cavitation effect
Hull pressure fluctuations is not only used to determine the force excitation of the hull but also as a criterion for an
acceptable propeller at the design stage for civilian shipyards. Current practice [Carlton & Bantham 1997] gives the
following acceptable hull pressure amplitude at the first blade rate frequency:
General ship type Typical blade rate hull surface pressure range (freq.=n.Z)
Cruise liner 1–2 kPa
Ro/Ro Ferry 2–4 kPa
Container and fast Cargo ships 3–6 kPa
Slow bulk trade ships 4–7 kPa
A comparison between model and full scale results is shown in figure 16, for a fixed pitch propeller of a tanker. The
instantaneous measured pressure signal is averaged for every fraction of shaft revolution, over 250 shaft revolutions for
both full scale and model scale measurements. The results at model scale have been obtained at two flow speeds, the lower
one corresponding to Froude speed and the higher one corresponding to the highest flow speed that was possible to
achieve.
Figure 16: Time trace over 1 shaft revolution of the hull pressure signal of a 5 blades propeller of a tanker
The results show that the cavitation at low flow speed, is very unstable, which is not the case at high speed. This
clearly demonstrates that keeping the similarity of the classical dimensionless numbers (σn, Kt, P/D) is not enough for a
good representation of the full scale signature and that the test should be performed at maximum flow speed, i.e. to flow
speed as close as possible to full scale ship speed, in order to simulate the right wake and to get a more stable cavitation
pattern [Cordier & al, 1995].
Full scale hull excitation at blade rate harmonics has now become so low, specially on twin screw ships with highly
skewed propellers, that vibration induced by the broadband background energy of the hull excitation become questionable
([Carlton & Holland, 1998–1999]). This broadband energy is related to cavitation collapses in the tip region of the blades.
As shown by the Figure 17 for a four blades propeller of a cruise liner, as the cavitation is developing (i.e. Cavitation
number σn decreasing), the broadband level induced by the collapse of cavities tends to merge towards the low frequencies
range and this increases significantly the high harmonic levels although the 1st blade rate harmonic amplitude is not
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modified. Typical cavitation pattern related to this phenomena and to highly
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MARINE PROPULSOR NOISE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE HYDROACOUSTIC WATER TUNNEL “G.T.H.” 275
skewed propeller is a combined sheet and tip vortex cavitation.
Figure 17: Spectrum analysis on hull pressure fluctuations on a 4 blades propeller with and without cavitation of a twin
screw ship
As already mentioned, it should be recall that the hull structure response to the hull excitation is an important issue not
to forget. As matter of fact, results of measurements at full scale of pressure fluctuations and vibration level at a same
location on the hull above the port side propeller of a twin screw navy ship (Figures 18 & 19) clearly point out the
amplification of the hull in a broadband frequency range.
Figure 18: Full scale hull pressure fluctuation for Figure 19: Full scale hull velocity fluctuation for
different RPM of the port side propeller (fixed pitch) of different RPM of the port side propeller (fixed pitch) of
a twin screw navy ship a twin screw navy ship
Another point to clear up in the analysis of the correlation between full scale and model scale for highly skewed
propellers, is the effect of the differences between blades geometry and pitch setting on the hull excitation signature.
Differences between blades hull pressure signature are largely increased due to the non linear effect of the cavitation. This
is shown by Figure 20 which presents the pressure signature with and without cavitation (σn=1.7 & σn=8.0) for a same
loading of the blade (same Kt) and with maximum differences of pitch setting between blades of 0.5°. This also rises the
necessity to make the harmonic analysis of the hull pressure signals rather on the shaft rate component basis than on the
blade rate component basis. With no blades differences, the shaft rate component should not exist.
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Figure 20: Effect of blades differences on pressure signature of non cavitating and cavitating 4 blades propeller
These remarks point out the importance of the accuracy of the pitch setting of the blades of controllable pitch
propellers: typically an accuracy of less than 0.2° at model scale as well as at full scale is needed. In the case of highly
skewed propeller with either fixed or controllable pitch, the accuracy of the tip region geometry of the blades is also of
much concern. In this respect, the propeller manufacturing tolerances, specially at model scale, have to be better than the
ISO class S tolerances.
Finally, it should be recall, that the full scale ship trials and propeller operating conditions must be known with a great
confidence in order to improve the prediction of the higher harmonic pressure amplitude from model scale [Cavitation
Induced Pressure Fluctuations Committee Report of the 22nd ITTC, 1999].
• Propelle r radiated noise:
Concerning the radiated noise at blade rate frequency and its harmonics, similar conclusions as the one presented on
the hull pressure excitation can be made, specially on the cavitation effect on the level increase of these frequency lines and
on the hull amplification effect.
The propeller broad band noise level is very sensitive to cavitation. Figure 21 shows the broad band signature of a
navy ship type propeller measured in GTH operating at the same shaft revolution rate, same flow speed but at two different
flow pressures such that one case is with cavitation (σV=1.5) and the other one is without cavitation (σV=2). A reference
curve of noise radiated in the same operating conditions but with a bare hub instead of the propeller is superimposed. The
results show an increase of 20 dB of the broad band radiated noise once the propeller is cavitating (σV=1.5).
Figure 21: Sound Power density spectrum of a propeller of a twin screw navy ship with and without cavitation at model
scale
The frequencies lines at medium frequencies range that appear on the spectrum and which do not depend on the
propeller rpm, result from the so called “propeller singing” induced by the trailing edge geometry. If this frequencies lines
do appear at model scale, they will or will not appear at full scale. On the contrary, if they do not appear at model scale,
they will not appear at full scale. This is due to the fact that the trailing edge vortices activity is reduced as the Reynolds
number increases.
Figure 22 presents a comparison between radiated noise of propeller extrapolated from model test and radiated noise
measured at full scale on a submarine propeller at operating conditions without cavitation. The model test was made at flow
speed equivalent to full scale ship speed. The sound power density
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MARINE PROPULSOR NOISE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE HYDROACOUSTIC WATER TUNNEL “G.T.H.” 277
spectrum at model scale is extrapolated using the following formula:
which is based on the dimensionless formulas of paragraph 5.3 where the reference length scale is taken equal to the
propeller diameter and VFS is equal to Vm..
Figure 23: Radiated noise of propeller extrapolated
Figure 22: Extrapolated model scale and full scale
from model test and ship radiated (twin screw navy
sound power density spectra of a submarine propeller
surface ship)
(without cavitation)
The full scale measurement was done by an hydrophone towed by the submarine and located not far away and
downstream the propeller plane. The results in Figure 21 show a very good agreement as difference are less than 5dB at
medium and high frequency ranges. Furthermore, we have here a nice case of propeller radiated noise comparison between
model scale and full scale because the radiated noise measured at full scale is predominantly the propeller noise and not the
radiated noise due to the hull and internal machinery. We can then conclude that, from model test in GTH, we can predict
with a good confidence the full scale propeller noise specially without cavitation.
Figure 22 presents a comparison between radiated noise of propeller extrapolated from model test and radiated noise
measured at full scale of a twin screw navy surface ship. In this case, the full scale trials involve an array of hydrophones
hung vertically in deep water at fixed location [Urick, 1975]. The vessel is arranged to run at constant speed and course so
to pass at the measurement hydrophones at a known distance. Two ship speeds were performed with no cavitation on the
controllable pitch propellers. The same laws as described before is used for the extrapolation of the propellers noise.
The results show that the contribution of the propeller on the ship noise is not predominant at low speed. From this
example, we can conclude that the propeller noise is one noise source of the ship but it is not the only one that matters.
7. CONCLUSIONS
From model test performed in accordance with the hydro-acoustics similarities laws requirements, it is possible to
predict
- the cavitating and non cavitating operating conditions of a propeller
- the radiated noise of a propeller: broadband and tonal noise
- the propeller induced hull and shaft excitation
- then to evaluate the contribution of the propeller on the ship noise.
This has become possible because of the hydroacoustic performances of the GTH, its equipment and instrumentation,
and specially:
- the large test sections of the facility
- the control of both nuclei content and air content
- the low background noise of the facility
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- the low background noise of the hydraulic motor
- the high dynamical sensitivity of the transducers
- and model test performed at flow speed equal to ship speed.
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REFERENCES
Abbot P.A., Ce luzza S.A., Etter R.J., “The acoustic characteristics of the naval surface warfare center's large cavitation channel (LCC)”, ASME
symposium on flow noise modeling measurement and control, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, December 1993.
Auche r M., “Hélices marines”, Techniques de l'ingénieur, Traité de génie mécanique, No. B 4 360, France, 1996.
Baiter H.J., “Advanced views of cavitation noise”, International Symposium on Propulsors and Cavitation, Hamburg, Germany, June 1992.
Blake W.K., 1977, “Periodic and random Excitation of streamline structures by trailing edge flows”, Turbulence of liquids, Vol. 4.
Boissinot P., Fournie r P., Fré chou D., “Acoustic characterization of France's new large cavitation tunnel”, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Meeting, Atlanta, USA, September 1991.
Cavitation ITTC Committee , “Final Report and Recommendations to the 20th ITTC”, 20th ITTC Proceedings, 1993.
Cavitation Induced Pressure Fluctuation ITTC Committee, “Final Report and Recommendations to the 22nd ITTC”, 22nd ITTC Proceedings, 1999.
Carlton J.S. & Bantham I., “Experience gained from 50 years of marine failure investigations”, Transactions of International Marine Engineering.
October 1997.
Carlton J.S. & Holland C.G., “Aspects of twin screw ship technology”, Lloyd's Register Technical Association, paper No. 6, Session 1998–1999.
Cordier S., Briançon-marjolle t, Laurens J.M., Raulo J., “Effect of wake scaling on the prediction of propeller cavitation”, International Symposium on
Cavitation, CAV95, Deauville, France, 1995.
Franc J.P., Avellan F., Be lahadji B., Billard J.Y., Briançon-Marjolle t L., Fréchou D., Fruman D.H., Karimi A., Kueny J.L., Michel J.M., “La
cavitation: Mécanismes physiques et aspects industriels”, Presses Universitaires de Grenoble, France, 1995.
Gindroz B. & Billet M.L., “Influence of the nuclei on the cavitation inception for different types of cavitation on ship propellers”, Second ASME
International Symposium on Cavitation, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 1993.
Gode froy V., Fréchou D., Desvignes M., Bloyet D., “Digital image processing for cavitation on marine propellers”, Third International Symposium on
Cavitation, Grenoble, France, April 1998.
Holland C.G. & Wong S.F., “Noise prediction and correlation with full scale measurements in ships”, Trans. I.Mar.E., Vol. 107, Part 3, pp195–207,
1995.
Jonson J.L., “The unsteady response of propellers to ingested, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence”, ARL Review, An overview of the Applied Research
Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, 50th Anniversary 1945–1995, 1995.
Kirshne r I.N., Corriveau P.J., Muench J.D, Uhlman J.S., Krol W.P., “Validation of propeller turbulence ingestion acoustic radiation model using
wind tunnel measurements”, ASME Symposium on Flow Noise Modeling, Measurement, and Control, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA,
December 1993.
Lecoffre Y, Chantrel P. & Tellier J., “Le Grand Tunnel Hydrodynamique (GTH)”, ASME Winter Annual Meeting, Boston, USA, December 1987.
Manoha E., “Broadband noise from a propeller in turbulent flow”, ASME Symposium on Flow noise Modeling, Measurement and Control, Anaheim,
USA, 1998.
Pe rraud J., Arnal D., Archambaud J.P., Perelman O., Julie nne A., “Etude expérimentale de la transition de couche limite sous gradient de pression
négatif et à grand nombre de Reynolds”, 5ième Journées de l'Hydrodynamique, Rouen, France, March 1995.
Serande r A., Ritte mard P., Decrock H., “Vibration analysis of model hull appendages by a scanning Laser vibrometer system”, International
Conference on Vibration Measurements by Laser techniques: Advances and applications, Ancona, Italy, October 1994.
Raestad A.E., “Tip vortex index and engineering approach to propeller noise prediction”, The Naval Architec, pp. 11–16, July 1996.
Urick R.J., “Principles of underwater sound”, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 2nd edition, 1975.
Wills C.B., “Development of a comparative acoustic testing procedure for model propellers”, Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects,
1989.
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MARINE PROPULSOR NOISE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE HYDROACOUSTIC WATER TUNNEL “G.T.H.” 279
NOMENCLATURE
ρ (kg/m3)
water density
ρs (kg/m3)
hull/propeller material density
λ scale ratio (ship dimension divided by model dimension)
c sound speed (m/s)
(m/s2)
g gravity acceleration
f frequency (Hz)
kr roughness coefficient of the solid material (propeller/hull) (m)
Es elastic modulus of the solid material (propeller /hull) (Mpa)
µs Poisson ratio
ηs damping constant of the material
kth shaft rate harmonic
BRk kth blade rate harmonic
(µPa 2/ Hz)
Φ pp Power Density Spectrum of the sound pressure
r distance between source (propeller/ship) and receiver (m)
(hydrophone)
(/m3)
n Nuclei concentration
p reference hydrostatic pressure (propeller shaft axis or propeller (Pa)
shaft axis+0.7R)
pcrit Nuclei critical pressure (Pa)
pV vapor pressure (Pa)
p, p(t) fluctuating pressure amplitude on the hull, hull pressure signal (Pa)
V flow speed in the test section or ship full scale speed (m/s)
w wake deficit
L reference length (m)
(sound pressure level =10 log(Φpp) (Power density spectrum
L (dB re. 1µPa & 1Hz)
level)
D(R) diameter (radius) of the propeller (m)
P/D pitch (ratio of pitch at 0.7R and propeller diameter)
Z number of blades
n shaft revolution rate (rev/s)
T propeller thrust (N)
Q propeller torque (N.m)
Reynolds number
propeller Reynolds number
propeller Froude number
propeller thrust coefficient
propeller torque coefficient
propeller cavitation number based on shaft revolution speed
where P is the hydrostatic pressure at +0.7R of the shaft axis
propeller cavitation number based on flow speed where P is the
hydrostatic pressure at shaft axis
hull fluctuating pressure amplitude coefficient
Si propeller cavitation number at inception point
Subscripts
full scale
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FS
model scale
m
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APPENDIX I: TESTS & EQUIPMENT IN THE GTH 280
APPENDIX I: Tests & equipment in the GTH
Application Test section Measurements Equipment
configuration
- cavitation (σn , Kt)
Submarine, torpedo - closed test section - silent motorisation
- complete hull - self propulsion with - boundary layer
D≤250mm and without cavitation blowing
V≤10m/s Kt, Kq, η - dynamometry
- with ou without - nominal—effective - hydrophone plug
drift angle wake and/or streamlined
- acoustics hydrophone and
- hull fluctuating anechoïcal window
pressure - 3D LDV
- fluctuating thrust
- velocity down and
upstream the
propulsor
- cavitation (σn , Kt)
Single propeller and contra-rotating propeller survey at - closed test section - contra-rotating
large scale - complete hull - self propulsion with carter.
D≥250mm and without cavitation - electric motorisation
V≥7m/s Kt, Kq, η - dynamometer
- velocity down and
- specific operating - 3D LDV
conditions upstream the
(deceleration, propulsor
maneuvering &
astern perf…)
- shaft inclination 0°
et 10°
- cavitation (σn , Kt)
Single propeller and pump-jet survey at large scale - closed test section - silent motorisation
- complete hull - self propulsion with - dynamometers on
D≥250mm and without cavitation duct and rotor
V≥7m/s Kt, Kq, η - 3D LDV
- velocity down and - hydrophone plug
upstream the and/or streamlined
propulsor hydrophone and
- acoustic meas. anechoïcal window
- cavitation (σn , Kt)
Surface ship - single screw and - specific top cover
twin screw - self propulsion with - silent motorisation
- closed test section and without cavitation - boundary layer
Kt, Kq, η
- complete hull blowing
D≤250mm - nominal/effective - dynamometer
V≤10m/s wake - hydrophone plug
- acoustics
- wake generator of - 3D LDV
- hull fluctuating
shaft and brackets
pressure
- fluctuating thrust
- blade forces
- velocity down and
upstream the
propulsor
- cavitation (σn , Kt)
Specific Propulsors survey (Pods) - closed test section - silent motorisation
- Vmax - self propulsion with - dynamometer
- specific operating and without cavitation - 6 components force
Kt, Kq, η
conditions transducer
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- acoustics
(deceleration, - 3D LDV
- velocity down and
manoeuvring & - hydrophone plug
upstream the
astern perf…)
- shaft inclination and propulsor
drift angle 0°<α °
<180°
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APPENDIX I: TESTS & EQUIPMENT IN THE GTH 281
APPENDIX II: BACKGROUND NOISE OF THE GTH
• Background noise of the small test section at high pressure and at different flow speeds.
The levels presented on the graphs hereafter are lower in the high frequencies than the one presented in the ASME
paper [Boissinot & al, 1990], because the bearing of the rotor of the pump has been slightly modified.
• Background noise of the large test section at high pressure and at different flow speeds.
The levels on the graphs hereafter are lower than the one presented in the ASME paper [Boissinot & al, 1990], because
the skimmer downstream the large test section ([Lecoffre & al, 1987]) has been removed.
• Background noise of the large test section with and without nucle i injection
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APPENDIX I: TESTS & EQUIPMENT IN THE GTH 282
DISCUSSION
R.Arndt, University of Minesota, USA
How do you scale nuclei content between a model propeller and a full scale propeller operating in a ship's wake?
AUTHOR'S REPLY
The measurement of nuclei is done using a centre-body venturi. This means that the results is not a size distribution
but a critical pressure distribution. This nuclei measurement technique has been used at sea in the Atlantic Ocean not far
away of the French Brittany coast. The measurements were done from a ship at rest, therefore not in a ship's wake. The
results show discrepancies according to the sea state, depth and certainly temperature. For sea state 0, we have the critical
pressure distribution given on the following figure.
Nuclei measurement at sea (French Brittany west coast)
A similar measurement in the large test section of GTH for different tuning of the nuclei injection gives the result
presented on the following figure.
Nuclei measurement in the large test section of GTH
Theoretically, we should have the following scale effect between the critical pressure distribution:
The concentration ratio is kept between full scale and model scale (scale≈1/20), for critical pressure close to the vapor
pressure, but not for the lowest critical pressure (pcrit.< −500mbar). The first reason is that, up to now, there is no other
nuclei generation process than the one on the GTH that can produce such an amount of nuclei with a stable concentration
and distribution of sizes in large cavitation facility. The second reason is that we do not really need such a scaling amount
for the lowest critical pressure because we already get a cavitation nuclei saturation from the nuclei with critical pressure
closed to vapor pressure.
DISCUSSION
G.Chahine, Dynaflow Inc., USA
Since you control the nuclei distribution in the GTH, do you find a correlation between nuclei size distribution and
cavitation inception?
Do you measure that distribution of nuclei as a function of time? Is the number of nuclei the only important parameter
as you said in your talk? When you showed the cavitation noise scaling between the full scale and the model you used a
correction of 30 dS. What does this correspond to in terms of power of the ratio Dfull scale/Dmodel?
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AUTHOR'S REPLY
Yes we do find a correlation between nuclei distribution and cavitation inception. This correlation has largely been
discussed in the paragraph 8 of the Cavitation Committee Final Report of the 21st ITTC.
We do not measure the distribution of nuclei as a function of time. Because the deaeration process is very fast, we can
adjust precisely the air content every 4 hours, so that the air content do not change within 10% of the value set for the test.
Moreover, because of the downstream tank, there is no recirculation of the nuclei in the tunnel. Also, the nuclei generation
process is monitored as a function of flow speed and pressure in the tunnel in order to keep the same nuclei distribution.
Those are the reasons why the nuclei content is stable during the tests. This has been checked few times and that is the
reason why we do not have a continuous measurement of the nuclei.
The scaling of is related to power of 3 of the ratio Dfull scale/Dmodel. This comes from the
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Power Spectrum, the scaling would be
APPENDIX I: TESTS & EQUIPMENT IN THE GTH
related to a power of 2 of Dfull scale/Dmodel.
283
fact that we are comparing noise spectrum in terms of Power Density Spectrum. If we do the noise scaling in terms of