• Dr. Con Doolan
  • University of Adelaide
  • 331 Randolph Hall
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • Faculty Host: Dr. William Devenport

Understanding, measuring and predicting flow-induced noise generated by the interaction of turbulent flow with objects (such as the trailing edge of airfoils), remains a great technical and scientific challenge.  This is because it combines interesting and complex physical processes such as aerodynamics, turbulence, acoustics and sometimes material properties.  The noise generated is normally broadband in nature and while easily distinguishable in practical applications, it is hard to measure in a wind tunnel due to facility induced noise effects and sometimes low signal-to-noise ratio.  It is also difficult to numerically simulate, given the high Reynolds numbers of many applications and the limitations of turbulence models used to approximate wall-bounded flows.  This seminar will give an overview of the aeroacoustic research activities of the Flow and Noise Group at the University of Adelaide, and will focus on some recent research concerning trailing edge noise production and interacting bluff bodies.  The talk will include a discussion of some methods of passive trailing edge noise control that have been inspired by owls, who are able to fly and hunt silently.

Biography:

Prof. Con Doolan leads the Flow and Noise Group at the University of Adelaide, whose focus is on understanding and controlling flow-induced noise in application areas such as jets, wind turbines, aircraft and submarines. He has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Queensland and completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Glasgow and a Research Scientist position at DSTO before joining the University of Adelaide.  He has combined his interests of unsteady compressible fluid dynamics and acoustics to study fundamental and applied research problems in aeroacoustics.  His group currently has 9 postgraduates and 3 postdocs, has developed new experimental and numerical capabilities, and receives funding from the ARC, DSTO and ASC Pty Ltd, among others.