Data Papers
Feb 17, 2022

Experiments in a Large Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel: Propagation of Noise through the Turbulent Boundary Layer

Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 5

Abstract

A series of acoustic propagation experiments was conducted in the University of Florida Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (UFBLWT) to investigate tornadic infrasound propagation in the turbulent atmosphere. A synthetic acoustic wave was generated within a boundary layer wind field using a speaker, and distorted by the surrounding turbulent atmosphere as it propagated along the UFBLWT fetch where it was measured by an acoustic microphone 22 m downwind of the speaker. The wind tunnel operating speed and the configuration of the mechanical turbulence generating roughness elements were varied between experiments to alter the turbulence characteristics and thus the distortion of the acoustic wave. The wind field turbulence data were obtained by three Cobra probes mounted on an actuated and automated gantry. The turbulence-induced distortion of the acoustic wave was captured by analyzing the signal at its source and as-measured downwind. Data were characterized, organized, and curated into four stages.

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Data Availability Statement

Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies. The online data are published on DesignSafe and are accessible via https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-bpav-8w29.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for continual funding from NOAA. This program is supported by the NOAA Weather and Air Quality Research program Award No. NA18OAR4590306. The authors are grateful for the technicians and staff at the National Science Foundation Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel at the University of Florida.

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Go to Journal of Structural Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 148Issue 5May 2022

History

Received: Jun 10, 2021
Accepted: Oct 21, 2021
Published online: Feb 17, 2022
Published in print: May 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jul 17, 2022

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Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9556-1139. Email: [email protected]
Graduate Research Assistant, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1844-8703. Email: [email protected]
Kurtis R. Gurley, A.M.ASCE [email protected]
Professor and Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment Associate Director, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Email: [email protected]
Steven A. E. Miller [email protected]
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

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  • A simplified semi-empirical model for long-range low-frequency noise propagation in the turbulent atmosphere, Applied Acoustics, 10.1016/j.apacoust.2023.109256, 205, (109256), (2023).

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