About the project
Advanced Air Mobility could improve connectivity, logistics and transport efficiency, but community noise remains a major barrier to its widespread acceptance. This project will develop methods to predict and reduce the noise generated by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft during the transition between vertical and forward flight.
The Advanced Air Mobility sector is growing rapidly through the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other novel aerial vehicles. However, community noise remains a major barrier to their widespread acceptance and deployment.
This project will focus on the transition between vertical and forward flight, which is characterised by highly transient aerodynamic and aeroacoustic phenomena that can significantly influence both overall noise levels and sound quality. You will develop and extend reduced-order noise-source models for eVTOL aircraft during transitional manoeuvres.
Laboratory-scale experiments and outdoor flight-test data will be used to investigate the dominant noise-generation mechanisms and establish scalable prediction methods. These source models will then be incorporated into whole-aircraft noise prediction tools to assess community exposure and perceived sound quality.
The project will also investigate quieter operating strategies. Artificial intelligence or machine-learning methods may be used to support trajectory optimisation that reduces community noise while accounting for relevant aircraft and operational constraints.
In partnership with ARUP, the project will incorporate full-scale acoustic measurements from operational aircraft, providing validation data and benchmarks for the modelling approaches.
You will benefit from a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), with access to state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant postgraduate community. The University of Southampton is internationally recognised for its excellence in acoustics and aerospace research.
You will have opportunities to attend international conferences, workshops, and training events, and to engage with a global network of researchers and industry experts.
You will have access to the full range of postgraduate development courses offered by the University of Southampton's Doctoral College, covering academic writing, presentation skills, project management, and public engagement.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
