A time-domain Kirchhoff formula for the convective acoustic wave equation

Kirchhoff’s integral method allows propagated sound to be predicted, based on the pressure and its derivatives in time and space obtained on a data surface located in the linear flow region. Kirchhoff’s formula for noise prediction from high-speed rotors and propellers suffers from the limitation of the observer located in uniform flow, thus requiring an extension to arbitrarily moving media. This paper presents a Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces in a uniform moving medium of arbitrary configuration. First, the convective wave equation is derived in a moving frame, based on the generalized functions theory. The Kirchhoff formula is then obtained for moving surfaces in the time domain. The formula has a similar form to the Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces of Farassat and Myers, with the presence of additional terms owing to the moving medium effect. The equation explicitly accounts for the influence of mean flow and angle of attack on the radiated noise. The formula is verified by analytical cases of a monopole source located in a moving medium.