The sound of metamaterials: auralisation techniques for acoustic metamaterials

The emergence of acoustic metamaterials opened up a wide range of novel ways to control sound, from extremely thin low-frequency sound absorbers to acoustic invisibility cloaks. The performance assessment of current metamaterials-based technologies is exclusively focused on objective metrics, such as absorption coefficients or sound pressure levels. What is missing in the current research landscape is a different view that looks at the human perception of how sound is altered by acoustic metamaterials and if this can be exploited to make noise sound more pleasant, without necessarily improving objective metrics.

You will create virtual models that can auralise the sound of acoustic metamaterials in different applications, such as noise treatments or in musical instruments. A key property of the models should be the ability to change the properties of the acoustic metamaterial treatments, such as their tuning or the type of metamaterial, to be able to study the sound-changing effects of the metamaterials. 

To validate the virtual auralisation models, you will use the world-class acoustic testing facilities at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. The virtual models will be used in listening tests to measure the effect of metamaterials on the subjective perception of sounds by humans and contrast this to the established objective measures. The novel techniques developed in this project can be used to let the general public listen to the effect of acoustic metamaterials on these sounds through an interactive web app.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of training activities during your PhD, ranging from technical taught modules, such as world-class modules on sound and vibration, to personal development training. You will also be supported to attend national and international conferences to present your research results to a wide audience of experts.