Application of Acoustic-Vortex Method for CFD-CAA Modelling of Multicopter Noise

Abstract Quadcopters have become extremely popular and are used in areas ranging from monitoring traffic or fire conditions to distributing the Internet or cold drinks. Over the past ten years, there has been a sharp increase in the use of multicopters for various purposes. The noiselessness and efficiency of a propeller propulsion system are critical aspects in developing modern unmanned aerial vehicles. The development of this area of aviation technology in the context of tightening noise standards is impossible without effective optimization methods that work in conjunction with computer-aided design systems. Such a challenge requires the development of theoretical approaches to the numerical simulation of sound generation mechanisms by the propellers of multicopters and the corresponding software. This article discusses software based on a method for calculating sound generation and noise emission by a drone propeller, considering the decomposition of the vortex and acoustic modes. The development of this method makes it possible to consider the influence of a flow’s inhomogeneity and turbulence, rotor interference, sound diffraction by airframe elements, impedance characteristics of the hull coating, and other factors while ensuring the accuracy and speed of calculations.