Multiple PhD positions in Aeroacoustics at Delft University of Technology

Three positions are available in two projects:

Project 1: eVTOLUTION

Together with several partner institutes, in this project we aim to develop a multi-fidelity framework for the design, simulation, and optimization of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

PhD position 1

Title: PhD position – Low-fidelity aeroacoustic prediction of eVTOL vehicle under operation

Description: The objective is to develop a prediction tool of the noise of an eVTOL vehicle based on incoming gusts/atmospheric turbulence and on accelerating/manoeuvring, which also considers urban, environmental, and atmospheric effects on noise propagation. The model will be used to include noise in the planning and control of eVTOL missions. Furthermore, the tool can be used for an oriented redesign of the vehicle and to develop an informed controller to reduce noise emissions to the ground.

PhD position 2

Title: PhD position - Aeroacoustic-oriented design and experimentation of eVTOL vehicle

Description: In this position, a reference eVTOL vehicle will be proposed. This vehicle should represent a realistic airframe, and will be used as reference platform for validating the models proposed in the project. The design needs to satisfy several criteria regarding noise sources, propulsion systems, and alignment with sub-assemblies tested in the project. High-fidelity simulations will be used for the study of the acoustic and aerodynamic properties of the vehicle. These simulations will be later validated with experimental campaigns carried out on a scaled model of the vehicle. The data obtained from the reference vehicle will also be used to inform low-fidelity and data-driven models in the project and to quantify the differences observed from the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic interactions that are commonly neglected in the sub-system and component analysis.

Project 2: AMPERE

The project proposes the derivation of a new physical model based on an electric circuit analogy, for creating new permeable geometries that smartly use all their paths. This, in turn, enables the obtainment of the highest noise abatement within a negligible part length. A step ahead in our sound-control solutions is required to meet the environmental targets set for a number of sectors, particularly in aeronautic and wind-turbine applications. Current passive flow‑permeable strategies tend to expose a predominantly random distribution of channels to the airflow, which, in the end, chooses the one with the lowest flow resistance. This means that the remaining material creates a loss of lift and an increase in drag, making the noise reduction purposeless.

PhD position 3

Title: PhD position – Novel multi-path permeable materials for aerodynamic-noise mitigation

Description: First, the candidate will perform high-fidelity simulations on a simplified setup, i.e., a flat plate equipped with a structured porous material, to extend the existing one‑dimension permeable laws to materials with multiple communication paths under different flow conditions. Second, he/she will exploit the knowledge acquired at the previous point to derive a frequency-domain response function for different combined materials in a multi-layer form using an equivalent circuit model. This will make it possible to propose innovative designs for permeable multi‑path and multi-layer materials that will be tuned to leading and trailing-edge noise industrial applications. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed designs will be verified by means of technological demonstrators. In this way, practical aspects related to implementations and limitations dictated by company requirements will be addressed.