Design and Evaluation of a Zero Mass Flow Liner

In this study, the concept of a Zero Mass Flow Liner is evaluated. The concept enables impedance control by the induction of periodic bias flow through the perforated facing sheet of the liner. The periodic bias flow is generated by a secondary high amplitude acoustic actuation. By means of the periodic bias flow, the liner can be tuned to different operating points in a given range of grazing flow velocities. The equivalent fluid impedance model for perforated plates is modified to account for the effects of periodic bias flow and grazing flow. An optimization routine, based on a genetic algorithm, is implemented. The method is applicable to any liner concept and uses the impedance of the lined surface as boundary condition in a numerical simulation. Thereby, a set of liner parameters is derived in order to obtain the desired damping characteristics. Based on the results of the optimization, a Zero Mass Flow Liner is manufactured and consequently evaluated experimentally. The damping characteristics are evaluated in form of the dissipated energy along the lined surface. Prediction and measurements show agreement. The Zero Mass Flow Liner delivers broad band dissipation of high peak value over a range of grazing flow Mach numbers. Under grazing flow conditions, the effect of periodic bias flow is reduced. This poses high energy requirements in high Mach number flow regimes which might restrict the applicability of the Zero Mass Flow concept to grazing flows of low Mach numbers