Computing aerodynamically generated noise

In contrast to computational aerodynamics, which has advanced to a fairly mature state, computational aeroacoustics (CAA) has only recently emerged as a separate area of study. Following a discussion of the classical field of aeroacoustics as introduced by Lighthill, the paper provides an overview and analysis of the problems associated with utilizing standard computational aerodynamics procedures for acoustic computations. Numerical aspects of computing sound-wave propagation are considered, including assessments of several schemes for spatial and temporal differencing. Issues of particular concern in computing aerodynamically generated noise, such as implementing surface and radiation boundary conditions and algorithms for predicting nonlinear steepening and shocks, are discussed. In addition, the paper briefly reviews alternatives to the conventional finite-difference schemes, such as boundary-element and spectral methods and the uncommon lattice-gas method.