STOVL Acoustic Fatigue Technologies

This paper assesses the state of the art in acoustic fatigue technologies as applied to an advanced supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. The topics covered include advanced materials, fatigue, acoustic loads prediction, and stress response prediction. Advanced materials are compared from the standpoints of fatigue resistance and fatigue data availability. State of the art acoustic load prediction techniques are evaluated. Subsonic and supersonic jet noise generation mechanisms, axisymmetric and two-dimensional nozzles, and noise suppression methods are covered. Stress response prediction methods for acoustic, thermal, and maneuvering loads are addressed and the necessity of structural analysis with all three loading types applied simultaneously is assessed.