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Research group

Acoustics Group

Speakers

We explore the science and real-world application of acoustics. Our research includes underwater acoustics, aeroacoustics, and virtual acoustics.

Part of Engineering

About

We've worked with industry partners to discover the implications for areas like science, the ecosystem and quality of life.  

Ultrasonics and underwater acoustics (UAUA)  

  
At the UAUA we take projects from science to real-world use. Our work brings together a range of different specialisms and our areas of focus include:  

  • exploring how a waterfall might sound on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and whether this could benefit the Cassini-Huygens probe mission  
  • studying how dolphins think, and how this knowledge could help us protect shipping  
  • producing 3D pictures of shipwrecks, allowing archaeological research without disturbing a wreck  

  
Biomedical and high-power ultrasonics  
   

We research a range of biomedical issues, such as how we can use ultrasound to change chemical reactions. This can help industries become cleaner and more efficient.  

Our research has led to developments in many areas, including:  

  • a 'smart stethoscope' to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound in destroying kidney stones  
  • an ultrasound system to detect osteoporosis and the general health of bone  
  • a method for assessing muscle quality using ultrasound  

  
Aeroacoustics and nonlinear acoustics 

 
Our programme of research in aeroacoustics includes exploring how to reduce aircraft noise. This noise affects the quality of life of those who live near airports, and is an environmental barrier to the growth of commercial aviation.  
 
We've focused on:  

  • the design of acoustic liners to reduce noise from intake and bypass ducts  
  • the development of improved models for jet noise  
  • developing and exploiting measurement techniques for rig and full-scale engine noise testing 

Research highlights

A large passenger plane flying close overhead

Curbing the impact of aircraft noise

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Health and wellbeing
A new project aims to mitigate the effect of increasing air traffic on people on the ground.

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Sergi Palleja Cabre

Royal Academy of Eng. Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Propeller interaction noise
  • Fan broadband noise
  • Duct acoustics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Sergi

Email: S.Palleja-Cabre@soton.ac.uk

Google Scholar
ORCID
LinkedIn

Dr Sjoerd Van Ophem PhD

Lecturer in Structural Dynamics

Research interests

  • Vibro-acoustic analysis
  • Model order reduction
  • Digital twins

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Sjoerd

Email: S.Van-Ophem@soton.ac.uk

Google Scholar
ORCID
LinkedIn

Professor Stefan Bleeck

Prof of Hearing Science and Technology

Research interests

  • The aim of my work is to understand how we hear sound and to use this knowledge to create bio-inspired solutions to enhance speech communication.
  • I have continuously worked on various aspects of hearing research and technology and have been principal investigator on various research grants (EU, EPSRCS, etc) with a value of more than £2M. I am team leader with an internationally recognised research programme to develop devices that help normal hearing and hearing-impaired people to communicate better in noise. Methodologies include brainstem physiology, neuronal simulations, deep learing, psychophysics, pupil tracking and other physiological measurements. 

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Stefan

Email: S.Bleeck@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 6682

ORCID

Professor Steve Bell

Professor

Research interests

  • evoked responses: measuring electrical responses from the hearing and balance system in response to sensory stimulation;
  • evaluating the benefits of hearing aid and cochlear implant technology;
  • principle investigator on the EPSRC funded project ‘Personalized fitting and evaluation of hearing aids with EEG responses’ 

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Steve

Email: S.L.Bell@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4950

Professor Thomas Blumensath

Professor

Research interests

  • I develop and study advanced algorithms that can solve challenging inverse problems by efficiently exploiting complex prior information. Using techniques from mathematics, statistics and machine learning, my work concentrates primarily on problems in x-ray tomographic image reconstruction and modelling.
  • I work closely with state-of-the-art imaging facilities (µ-VIS, the National Research Facility in Lab-based XCT, the UK’s synchrotron facility at the Diamond Light Source, and ISIS neutron imaging beamline) to find practical solutions to a range of important scientific problems from plant science to manufacturing.
  • My research interests cover areas such as: Theoretical and computational methods for Signal and Image Processing (Machine Learning, Compressed Sensing, Statistical Signal and Image Processing, Quantum Computing, Inverse Problems, Optimisation, X-ray Tomographic Imaging); Advanced tomographic imaging strategies: (limited angle tomography and laminography, Spectral X-ray imaging, Stereo and extreme limited view tomography); Efficient computational methods for tomographic reconstruction, including GPU acceleration, distributed computation and advanced optimisation strategies, Constrained optimisation for ill-conditioned and underdetermined   tomographic inverse problems, Applications of X-ray tomography to the inspection of manufactured components, Multimodal tomographic imaging

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Thomas

Email: Thomas.Blumensath@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 3224

ORCID

Professor Tim Waters

Head of Department

Research interests

  • Wave propagation in structures
  • Vibration control
  • Vibration based structural health monitoring

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Tim

Email: T.P.Waters@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4979

Dr Victoria Watson

Principal Teaching Fellow

Research interests

  • person centered care
  • qualitative research
Connect with Victoria

Email: V.Watson@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2287

LinkedIn

Dr Wenjing Sun

Lecturer in Acoustics

Research interests

  • Rolling noise and interior noise of railway vehicle;
  • Railway vehicle dynamics;
  • Indirect measurement of rail and wheel roughness using AI technology.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Wenjing

Email: W.Sun@soton.ac.uk

Google Scholar

Dr Ying Ye

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Ying

Email: Y.Ye@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4962

ORCID
My main research area is the numerical studies of aircraft engine fan noise propagation and radiation and acoustic liner design, optimisation and predictions.
Dr Rie Sugimoto
Senior Research Fellow