About the project
This PhD project focuses on characterizing and predicting noise in short intake ducted propeller systems for eVTOL aircraft, critical for Urban Air Mobility noise reduction. Using advanced techniques like Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and acoustic measurements, this research will inform models and explore acoustic liners to reduce noise emissions.
Join the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), a globally renowned centre with nearly 40 staff members dedicated to advancing research, consultancy, and education in sound and vibration. You’ll become part of a dynamic team in the Aeroacoustic Research Laboratory, working to understand, predict, and reduce aeroacoustic noise sources. As part of Rolls-Royce’s University Technical Centre in Propulsion Systems Noise, you’ll collaborate with motivated researchers, PhD students, and postdoctoral scholars from various backgrounds.
This PhD project aims to improve understanding of short intake ducted propeller systems for eVTOL Urban Air Mobility vehicles. Preliminary studies indicate a significant increase in tonal and broadband noise for short ducted configurations compared to unducted propeller systems. To address this, a detailed analysis is required to characterize and develop prediction models for these systems.
You will work with state-of-the-art ducted propeller rigs and anechoic wind tunnel facilities, using advanced techniques like Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and hotwire measurements to characterize the flow, as well as near- and far-field acoustic measurement techniques to analyze the noise field. This data will feed into analytical models to provide physical insights into the noise-generating mechanisms. The project will also investigate acoustic treatments, including the use of liners within the propeller casing, to help reduce noise emissions. This research will support critical advances in noise reduction strategies for next-generation Urban Air Mobility.
