Patent — available for licensing
Suppression of Jet Noise for a Plug Nozzle Using Porosity on the Plug Surface
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Future commercial supersonic aircraft need propulsion systems with significantly lower landing and takeoff (LTO) noise to meet strict environmental regulations. While plug nozzles offer excellent aerodynamic efficiency, conventional solid plug designs generate severe aberrant noise at off-design pressure ratios. This includes broadband shock associated noise (BBSN), excess broadband noise (EBBN), screech, and transonic tones. Suppressing these complex noise components without sacrificing engine thrust remains a critical challenge for aerospace manufacturers. In response, engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center developed a porous center-body structure that minimizes acoustic emissions in plug nozzles. The invention is an advanced exhaust geometry that leverages surface porosity to stabilize flow dynamics. By altering the plug's physical structure, the technology eliminates aberrant noise. This allows engineers to avoid unexpected noise generation during critical LTO phases with minimal thrust loss, offering a highly efficient acoustic solution for supersonic aviation.