Automatic source localization and spectra generation from sparse beamforming maps

TL;DR

This paper introduces two automated methods for identifying aeroacoustic sources and extracting their spectra from sparse beamforming maps, reducing manual effort and improving robustness in aeroacoustic imaging.

Contribution

It presents novel automated techniques using spatial distribution and hierarchical clustering for source localization and spectra extraction in beamforming data.

Findings

Methods successfully identify sources in wind-tunnel data

Both approaches are robust to statistical noise

Automatic ROI determination improves analysis efficiency

Abstract

Beamforming is an imaging tool for the investigation of aeroacoustic phenomena and results in high dimensional data that is broken down to spectra by integrating spatial Regions Of Interest. This paper presents two methods that enable the automated identification of aeroacoustic sources in sparse beamforming maps and the extraction of their corresponding spectra to overcome the manual definition of Regions Of Interest. The methods are evaluated on two scaled airframe half-model wind-tunnel measurements and on a generic monopole source. The first relies on the spatial normal distribution of aeroacoustic broadband sources in sparse beamforming maps. The second uses hierarchical clustering methods. Both methods are robust to statistical noise and predict the existence, location, and spatial probability estimation for sources based on which Regions Of Interest are automatically determined.