A framework for using continuous wavelet transforms to isolate and extract blade-vortex interaction noise from helicopter acoustic signals is described. The extraction method allows for the investigation of blade-vortex interactions independent of other sound sources. Experimentally acquired acoustic data from full-scale helicopter flyover tests are first transformed into time-frequency space through the wavelet transformation, with blade-vortex interactions identified and filtered by their high-amplitude, high-frequency impulsive content. The filtered wavelet coefficients are then used to create a pressure signal solely related to blade-vortex interactions. Analysis of a synthetic data set is conducted and shows that blade-vortex interactions can be accurately extracted so long as the blade-vortex interaction wavelet energy is comparable to the wavelet energy in the main rotor harmonic.
@article {6552, title = {Extracting Blade-Vortex Interactions Using Continuous Wavelet Transforms}, journal = {Journal of the American Helicopter Society}, volume = {62}, year = {2017}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {<p>A framework for using continuous wavelet transforms to isolate and extract blade-vortex interaction noise from helicopter acoustic signals is described. The extraction method allows for the investigation of blade-vortex interactions independent of other sound sources. Experimentally acquired acoustic data from full-scale helicopter flyover tests are first transformed into time-frequency space through the wavelet transformation, with blade-vortex interactions identified and filtered by their high-amplitude, high-frequency impulsive content. The filtered wavelet coefficients are then used to create a pressure signal solely related to blade-vortex interactions. Analysis of a synthetic data set is conducted and shows that blade-vortex interactions can be accurately extracted so long as the blade-vortex interaction wavelet energy is comparable to the wavelet energy in the main rotor harmonic.</p>}, author = {Stephenson, J. H. and C. E. Tinney}, doi = {10.4050/JAHS.62.022001} }