The detection of sound sources with microphone arrays can be enhanced through processing individual microphone signals prior to the delay and sum operation. One method in particular, the Phase Transform (PHAT) has demonstrated improvement in sound source location images, especially in reverberant and noisy environments. Recent work proposed a modification to the PHAT transform that allows varying degrees of spectral whitening through a single parameter, andamp;acirc;, which has shown positive improvement in target detection in simulation results. This work focuses on experimental evaluation of the modified SRP-PHAT algorithm. Performance results are computed from actual experimental setup of an 8-element perimeter array with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for detecting sound sources. The results verified simulation results of PHAT- andamp;acirc; in improving target detection probabilities. The ROC analysis demonstrated the relationships between various target types (narrowband and broadband), room reverberation levels (high and low) and noise levels (different SNR) with respect to optimal andamp;acirc;. Results from experiment strongly agree with those of simulations on the effect of PHAT in significantly improving detection performance for narrowband and broadband signals especially at low SNR and in the presence of high levels of reverberation.

This study determined a superior data processing technique for correlating an acoustic signal passing through a subsonic jet engine exhaust in order to estimate the traversal time of the signal. Thrust measurement is possible with enough time delay estimates across different portions of the exhaust. This preliminary study did not take the full array of data necessary to measure thrust, but did validate key aspects of the measurement process. The turbulent shear layers of the exhaust spectrally broaden the signal, creating the appearance of spectral "haystacks", making traditional correlation methods unworkable. An experiment was performed to evaluate the ability of a novel sound source to produce a signal from which a reliable and precise time delay estimate could be found. The test apparatus was installed on either side of a Honeywell TFE731-2 turbofan research engine exhaust cone, with the source and receivers placed near the jet exit plane. The signal was then directed across the jet exhaust. This flow environment is considered an extreme challenge for accurate acoustic signal propagation. A key contribution of this paper is the determination that the Phase Transform processor of the Generalized Cross-Correlation (GCC) method produces the most reliable time delay estimates, for the given signal and flow conditions. Several alternative time delay estimators and GCC processors were examined and evaluated on this data. A proposed explanation is provided for why this time delay estimation technique produces the most accurate results, as well as explanations for why the technique became less reliable as the flow environment became more challenging, with an observed 22% anomalous TDE selection rate for the N1Corr = 60% and N1Corr = 70% conditions combined, versus only 6% for the idle and N1Corr = 50% conditions combined. This paper also details the development and first use of a novel acoustic source that produces a two-tone narrowband signal emanating from a single point – the dual Hartmann generator. / Master of Science / This study builds on a Computational Tomography (CT) technique that uses an acoustic signal and an array of receivers to measure the velocity and temperature of a gas flow field. In particular, the velocity and temperature field tested involves multiple turbulent and disruptive elements, requiring a loud and specifically designed signal. As such, a novel acoustic signal generator, the dual Hartmann generator, was designed that is both loud and produces a specific two-toned signal. The key contribution of the study was to process the data, comparing the sets of transmitted and received signals, in order to estimate the time delay amongst receiver pairs – a key input in the CT method. Traditional cross-correlation methods were inadequate, and multiple alternatives were evaluated. The Phase Transform (PHAT) technique showed the most promise, and an explanation is given for why this technique is most suitable for this type of signal.

This thesis describe detection of direction receiving sound with small–size microphone array. Work is based on analyzing methods of time delay estimation, energy decay or phase difference signal. Work focus mainly on finding of angle of arrival in small time difference. Results of measuring, as programming sound, so sound recorded in laboratory conditions and real enviroment, are mentioned in conclusion. All calculations were done by platform Matlab