Transfer Function for Helicopter Acoustics Project at NASA Ames Research Center

Poster Image
Event poster; details follow in description
Poster Session
A
Poster Number
03
Project Author(s)
Lukas Dohse
Institution
Oregon State University
Project Description

During the summer of 2022, I had the opportunity to work in the Aeromechanics Branch of the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) at Ames Research Center. The Aeromechanics Branch is involved in various aspects of rotorcraft that include computational and experimental efforts. I was able to be involved in several different projects that ranged from the experimental setup of the Joby Aviation rotor to the calibration of a microphone in the NASA Ames Research Center Planetary Alerion Laboratory (PAL), and all projects involving aspects of acoustics. My first project involved the development of a transfer function for one of the branch’s data acquisition systems that will be used to acquire future data. The function must correct the error the machine experiences. My second project entailed trying to use my chemical engineering skills and apply them by analyzing the pump-down pressure data recorded inside the PAL to distinguish between the two methods of recording pressure. My skills in understanding the process and analyzing the measured differences aided in this project as a chemical engineer. The third project was for the setup and execution of the Joby Aviation rotor reflection tests in the NFAC 40 by 80 Foot Wind Tunnel. The fourth project entailed calibrating a microphone using an electric static actuator in two different testing locations which included the acoustics lab and inside the Planetary Aeolian Laboratory to ensure the test setup for both experiments was identical and produced the same results.