This paper investigates experimentally the mechanism of tone generation from flow over a simplified model of a perforated plate. To simplify the geometry to two dimensions, a perforated plate is modeled by a series of rectangular slats with an adjustable gap width between them. This apparatus is tested at various angles of incidence and flow velocities, to identify the conditions favorable to the production of tonal noise.
The results of this research are presented in two main parts. First, the acoustic response of the test plates is documented by means of microphone measurements. It is found that for an angle of incidence between 5 and 30 degrees and a flow velocity of 10 to 30 m/s, tonal noise is produced. Outside of this range of angles, the produced sound is broadband. In the second part, phase-locked particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to study the flow field. It is found that vortices form in the free shear layer of the gaps between the slats. These vortices impinge on the side of the downstream slat and are then ejected through the gap to the backside of the plate. As these vortices leave the edge of the downstream slat, counter rotating vortices are shed in sympathy with the incident vortices. Vortex pairs are therefore periodically shed which are thought to be the cause of tone generation.
