A feedforward control system for the active noise control of a triple-pane aircraft-type window

Abstract

Aircraft windows are a significant path for structure-borne and air-borne noise transmission in aircraft. Turbulent Boundary Layer noise is mainly transmitted into the cabin by airborne paths, but structure-borne noise, associated with engine vibration and the interaction between aerodynamic wakes and aircraft structure, makes a significant contribution to interior noise levels, especially at certain discrete frequencies. Active systems can be efficiently designed in order to reduce the amount of noise transmitted through the aircraft window, contributing to improve passenger’s comfort perception of the interior noise. In this paper, an active noise control system applied to a triple-pane aircraft window prototype is presented. Piezoelectric actuators are integrated on a window prototype in order to adaptively enhance its vibro-acoustic absorption capabilities and to control the acoustic radiation from the vibrating panes. The active noise control performances of the developed Filtered-x LMS controller, driving the piezo stacks mounted on the window prototype, are numerically evaluated in a reference acoustic enclosure subjected to a primary tonal noise source.