Measurement and characterisation of radiated underwater sound from a 3.6 MW monopile wind turbine.

This paper describes underwater sound pressure measurements obtained in close proximity (∼50 m) to two individual wind turbines, over a 21-day period, capturing the full range of turbine operating conditions. The sound radiated into the water was characterised by a number of tonal components, which are thought to primarily originate from the gearbox for the bandwidth measured. The main signal associated with the turbine operation had a mean-square sound pressure spectral density level which peaked at 126 dB re 1 µPa2 Hz-1 at 162 Hz. Other tonal components were also present, notably at frequencies between about 20 and 330 Hz, albeit at lower amplitudes. The measured sound characteristics, both in terms of frequency and amplitude, were shown to vary with wind speed. The sound pressure level increased with wind speed up to an average value of 128 dB re 1 µPa at a wind speed of about 10 ms-1, and then showed a general decrease. Overall, differences in the mean-square sound pressure spectral density level of over 20 dB were observed across the operational envelope of the turbine.

Acousto-optic effect compensation for optical determination of the normal velocity distribution associated with acoustic transducer radiation.

The acousto-optic effect, in which an acoustic wave causes variations in the optical index of refraction, imposes a fundamental limitation on the determination of the normal velocity, or normal displacement, distribution on the surface of an acoustic transducer or optically reflecting pellicle by a scanning heterodyne, or homodyne, laser interferometer. A general method of compensation is developed for a pulsed harmonic pressure field, transmitted by an acoustic transducer, in which the laser beam can transit the transducer nearfield. By representing the pressure field by the Rayleigh integral, the basic equation for the unknown normal velocity on the surface of the transducer or pellicle is transformed into a Fredholm equation of the second kind. A numerical solution is immediate when the scanned points on the surface correspond to those of the surface area discretization. Compensation is also made for oblique angles of incidence by the scanning laser beam. The present compensation method neglects edge waves, or those due to boundary diffraction, as well as effects due to baffles, if present. By allowing measurement in the nearfield of the radiating transducer, the method can enable quantification of edge-wave and baffle effects on transducer radiation. A verification experiment has been designed.