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

Colas, J.; Emmanuelli, A.; Dragna, D.; Stevens, R.J.A.M.

doi:10.1121/10.0043240

Publication 122 · 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).

Read the article Open-access version (university repository)

Main finding

Predicted noise modulation from two turbines changes with their relative rotor phase, speed and wake-modified sound propagation. The illustrative 400 s beat is a 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

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

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