Feedback active noise control (ANC) has been applied as a means of attenuating broadband noise from a small axial cooling fan. Such fans are used to maintain thermal stability inside of computers, projectors, and other office equipment and home appliances. The type of low-level noise radiated from axial cooling fans has been classified as harmful to productivity and human well being. Previous research has successfully implemented feed-forward ANC, targeting specific narrow-band fan noise content related to the blade passage frequency (BPF) of the fan. The reference signal required for a feed-forward algorithm limits its ability to attenuate much of the noise content; however, it is also desirable to reduce broadband fan noise. Feedback control is a logical alternative in the absence of a valid reference signal. The fan used for this research was mounted in one of the six aluminum panels that constituted a mock computer case. The fan was surrounded by four miniature loudspeakers as control sources and four small electret microphones as error sensors. A feasibility study was conducted with a single channel of analog feedback control. However, for the majority of this research, the ANC algorithm was executed on a digital signal processor. Several electronic modules provided the necessary signal conditioning and conversion for the process. A method is proposed and validated for predicting the overall attenuation that can be obtained for a specific fan, based on its autocorrelation measurement. Studies were performed in order to determine the difference in performance between static and adaptive controllers. Comparisons are made between decentralized and centralized controllers, the results of which are presented in this thesis. Feedback ANC is demonstrated as a good alternative to feed-forward ANC for the reduction of BPF related tonal fan noise content. Some low-frequency broadband attenuation is achieved. The delay time associated with current DSP technology is shown to be too long to effectively attenuate flow noise (the main component of broadband fan noise). Adaptive control proved to be necessary for stability and performance in the feedback controller. Decentralized control is shown to outperform centralized control for this specific application.

A linear model based on the wave-envelope technique is used to study the propagation of axisymmetric and spinning acoustic modes in hard-walled and lined nonuniform circular ducts carrying near sonic mean flows. This method is valid for large as well as small axial variations, as long as the mean flow does not separate. The wave-envelope technique is based on solving for the envelopes of the quasiparallel acoustic modes that exist in the duct instead o£ solving for the actual wave, thereby reducing the computational time and the round-off error encountered in purely numerical techniques. The influence of the throat Mach number, frequency, boundary-layer thickness and liner admittance on both upstream and downstream propagation of acoustic modes is considered. A numerical procedure, which is stable for cases of strong interaction, for analysis of nonlinear acoustic propagation through nearly sonic mean flows is also developed. This procedure is a combination of the Adams-PECE integration scheme and the singular value decomposition scheme. It does not develop the numerical instability associated with the Runge-Kutta and matrix inversion methods for nearly sonic duct flows. The numerical results show that an impedance condition can be satisfied at the duct exit and a corresponding solution obtained. The numerical results confirm that the nonlinearity intensifies the acoustic disturbance in the throat region, reduces the intensity of the fundamental frequency at the duct exit, and increases the reflections. This implies that the mode conversion properties of variable area ducts can reflect and focus the acoustic signal to the vicinity of the throat in high subsonic flows. Also the numerical results indicate that a shock develops if certain limits on the input parameters are exceeded. / Ph. D.

This paper reports the results of a study into V-ribbed belt noise generated as a result of tangential belt slip. The results of experimental studies to identify the belt operating conditions associated with belt noise are presented, together with the results of analytical studies to identify the mechanism of noise generation. It is concluded that tangential slip V-ribbed belt noise generation is controlled only by the amount of slip, and that the mechanism of noise generation is harmonic excitation of the fundamental vibration mode of the belt, with stick¿slip frictional behaviour providing the impetus for the vibration

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On-chip supply voltage fluctuations are known to adversely affect performance parameters of VLSI circuits. These power supply fluctuations reduce drive capability, causes reliability issues, decrease noise margin and also adversely affect timing. Technology scaling further aggravates the problem as IR and Ldi/dt noise sources increase with each device generation. Current method used to reduce power supply variations uses an on-chip decoupling capacitors (decaps). These MOS capacitors utilize significant die area with about 15%-20% common for high-end microprocessors [4]. They also consume a considerable amount of power due to leakage and are prone to oxide breakdown during an ESD event because of reduced oxide thickness, making MOS capacitors unsuitable for technologies 90 nm and below. To improve the effectiveness of decap and reduce decap’s area, a new active decap design is proposed for 90 nm technology.

Yes / There is increasing concern with protecting quiet and tranquil areas from intrusive noise. Noise reduction at source and barriers to transmission are mitigation measures often considered. An alternative is to attempt to mask or distract attention away from the noise source. The masking or distracting sound source should be pleasant so that it does not add to any irritation caused by the noise source alone. The laboratory measurements described in this paper consisted of capturing under controlled conditions the third octave band spectra of water falling onto water, gravel, bricks and small boulders and various combinations. These spectra were then matched with typical traffic noise spectra to assess the degree of masking that could be expected for each option. Recordings were also taken during each measurement and these were used later to enable the subjective assessment of the tranquility of the sounds. It was found that there were differences between water sounds both in terms of masking and their subjective impact on tranquility.

Commercial aviation transportation has experienced an overwhelming growth over the years. However, this expansion has encountered an important barrier: noise. Several studies have shown that residents in these areas experience problems such as stress and sleep disturbance. These problems have translated into demands for a better quality of life from airport residents which in turn have translated into more stringent aircraft noise regulations. As a result, large amounts of resources have been diverted towards the improvement of existing noise attenuation technologies and the development of more effective ones. In terms of turbofan generated noise, the most widely used technology is that of absorbent materials or liners. In recent investigations Alonso et al. have combined Herschel/Quincke (HQ) tubes with liners. This combination has the potential of effectively controlling pure tones and broadband noise in inlet sections of modern turbofan engines. Since a comprehensive approach for engine noise reduction will involve both inlet and aft HQ-Liner systems, additional research efforts were needed to evaluate their performance at reducing aft fan radiation In the present work, a combination of traditional liners and Herschel/Quincke waveguide resonators for aft fan radiation control is proposed. A theoretical model is developed in order to predict noise reduction due to such systems. The newly developed tool was then utilized to design an HQ-liner that was installed and tested in the aft section of the NASA Active Noise Control Fan (ANCF) rig. This experimental data was utilized to prove the potential of these systems and to validate the mathematical model. Analytical predictions correlate well with experiments. The NASA ANCF rig is not representative of a real turbofan engine. In order to assess the behavior of HQ-Liners in a more realistic environment a new system was specifically designed for a generic turbofan engine and its performance analyzed. The sound field inside HQ tubes has been described assuming plane waves only. This assumption limits the model to frequencies below the tube first resonance. In order to overcome this limitation a new model accounting for higher order modes inside the tubes has been developed. / Ph. D.