Postgraduate research project

Flow and noise control using non-equilibrium turbulent boundary layers

Funding
Fully funded (UK and international)
Type of degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Entry requirements
2:1 honours degree View full entry requirements
Faculty graduate school
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Closing date

About the project

The aim of this research project is to investigate how airfoil self-noise is generated through the interaction between an airfoil blade and the turbulent boundary layers that form over it, and how these structures can be manipulated for flow and noise control.

You will join a team of motivated researchers in our experimental fluid mechanics laboratory, where we use cutting-edge diagnostics to understand the physics of turbulent flows and noise generation. We are part of the National Wind Tunnel Facility and have several wind tunnels and anechoic chambers on site for studying experimental fluid mechanics.

You will be involved in the design and manufacture of various mechanisms for treating airfoil trailing edge noise, which will be tested in both our large-scale Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel and anechoic chamber facilities. 
 
You will learn to use a range of experimental methods, including flow-noise diagnostics (such as particle image velocimetry, hot-wire anemometry, and microphone measurements) and direct wall shear-stress measurements (using drag balance and oil-film interferometry). These methods will provide a complete picture of the flow structures, drag, and noise generation-suppression mechanisms of a lifting surface. 
 
You will use this unique data set to develop and validate new high-fidelity models for noise suppression, as well as to create a novel flow and noise control strategy for various engineering applications.
 
This project is partly supported by the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, and you will have opportunities to network with other universities and industries through the UK Fluids Network and the Airbus Noise Technology Centre (ANTC).