Richard J.A.M. Stevens

Physics of Fluids · University of Twente

Publication 123 · Wind-energy acoustics

Wake-induced variations in noise levels and amplitude modulation for two interacting wind turbines

J. Colas, A. Emmanuelli, D. Dragna, R.J.A.M. Stevens, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 159, 3048–3061 (2026).

Main finding

The paper demonstrates that predicted pair AM is structurally sensitive to geometry and timing inputs. Its 400 s beat is an illustrative sensitivity experiment, not evidence that staggered layouts generate that physical timescale.

Amplitude modulation maps at four rotor angular offsets with difference maps beneath
How to read the figure. Predicted amplitude modulation around a pair of interacting turbines at four relative rotor angular offsets, with the difference from the reference case beneath each. Changing only the offset moves the predicted modulation substantially: pair amplitude modulation is structurally sensitive to geometry and timing inputs. The sweep is a sensitivity experiment, not evidence that staggered layouts generate any particular physical timescale. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 14. J. Colas et al. (2026). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Two turbine patterns can reinforce or cancel level modulation.

Research context

This work builds on Impact of a Two-Dimensional Steep Hill on Wind Turbine… develops moving-source wake AM; Three-dimensional effects of the wake on wind turbine sound… exposes the 3D limitation; Modeling wind farm noise emission and propagation gives the 4-by-4 layout context.

Read the article View in the complete publication list Related research