Abstract: Noise control with respect to rotating machinery such as gas turbine engines is important to meet acceptable operational and environmental constraints. Buzz-saw noise in particular is due to differences in blade to blade geometries both as assembled and due to blade manufacturing tolerance variations. Generally, a plurality of blades rotate within a duct and some noise propagates forwards of the blade assembly. In order to abate such noise an acoustic lining is provided. By consideration of the acoustic attenuation effects of that lining, it is possible to rearrange the blades within the blade assembly such that the overall noise attenuation effects are improved.

Abstract: The invention minimizes selected tones present in buzz-saw noise, otherwise known as multiple pure tone noise. This noise arises from the production of unequal shockwaves during the rotation at sonic or supersonic velocities of a bladed rotor, the dimensional characteristics of whose blades are subject to manufacturing tolerances. Minimization of selected buzz-saw noise tones is achieved by arranging the blades around the rotor in a sequence which minimizes selected Fourier coefficients of the shockwave strengths; alternatively, the blades are arranged to minimize selected Fourier coefficients of the dimensional characteristics of the blades, such as thickness, t, stagger angle .theta., and camber. The invention is particularly applicable to the fan propulsors of turbofan aeroengines.