Work

An approximate hybrid approach for computing low-frequency outdoor sound propagation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Accurate and fast outdoor sound models are essential for assessing noise from infrastructure like wind turbines, highways, and industrial facilities. This paper presents an approximate hybrid method for solving long-range acoustic problems by coupling a normal-mode approach with the numerical solution of the linearized Euler equations (LEEs). The method computes a discrete mode spectrum using a weak Galerkin method from an aeroacoustic eigenequation that accounts for meteorological profiles, atmospheric absorption, gravity, and impedance ground conditions. A pressure field modal decomposition scheme then maps the mode spectrum to the LEE solution, which incorporates detailed geometry, meteorology, and diverse acoustic sources. The acoustic far field is then efficiently computed through an algebraic operation. We validate the method with long-range propagation problems from the infrasound community and a wind turbine model, showing excellent agreement with direct numerical methods while significantly reducing computational resources. This approach offers a practical tool for noise prediction in applications like wind park and highway noise mapping.

Source: Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements

DOI: 10.1016/j.enganabound.2025.106308

Authors: Rafael Castro Mota, Paul Williams, Mahmoud Karimi, Ray Kirby, Stefan Jacob

Institutions: University of Technology Sydney, RMIT University, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Technische Universität Braunschweig

Language: English

Topic: Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,590

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft