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Research group

Acoustics Group

Speakers

We explore the science and real-world application of acoustics. BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 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. BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 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.  

BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 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 

 
BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 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

Professor Alan McAlpine

Professor

Research interests

  • Aeroacoustics
  • Aircraft engine noise
  • Aircraft engine installation acoustics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Alan

Email: am@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2667

ORCID

Professor Alec Wilson

Professor Computational Aeroacoustics

Research interests

  • As Director of the?Rolls-Royce UTC in Propulsion Systems Noise?Alec develops, leads and participates in a range of European and UK collaborative research programmes in the field of aeroplane noise, with particular emphasis on aeroengine noise sources and sound propagation.
  • While at Rolls-Royce Alec played a pioneering role in the application of aerodynamic CFD codes to predict turbomachinery tone noise generated by real engineering geometries, and Alec’s own research at the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 still centres on the development and application of analytic and numerical modelling techniques to real-world engineering issues and opportunities.
  • An example of Alec’s current research is the development of a new prediction method based on eigen analysis.? Eigen analysis has been used for many years to provide a fast, computationally efficient method for predicting noise propagation in ducts, but the methods used have been limited to simplified geometries and mean flow which has limited their usefulness in practice.? The new method being developed retains the computational efficiency of previous methods, but can be applied to any smoothly varying mean flow and duct geometry.? The initial target of the research is to provide a method to predict acoustic propagation through a three-dimensional aeroengine intake at a computational cost that permits multiple calculations during the design optimisation process.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Alec

Email: A.G.Wilson@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4429

Dr Bogdan Bacila

Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Challenges in the subjective evaluation of spatial audio in automotive environments
Connect with Bogdan

Email: Bogdan.Bacila@soton.ac.uk

Dr Chaitanya Paruchuri

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Aeroacoustics?
  • Duct acoustics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Chaitanya

Email: C.C.Paruchuri@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 9458

Dr Jack Lawrence

Senior Research Fellow
Connect with Jack

Email: J.Lawrence@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 5935

Dr Long Wu PhD, BEng

Research Fellow
Connect with Long

Email: L.Wu@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2279

ORCID

Dr Matthew Wright

Professorial Fellow (Education)

Research interests

  • Musical instrument acoustics
  • Thermoviscous acoustics
  • Computer-enhanced learning

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Matthew

Email: mcmw@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2153

ORCID
Twitter

Dr Paul Murray

Principal Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Research into Aero Engine Acoustic Liner Optimisation, Manufacture and Test, and Engine Noise Source Generation/Propagation
Connect with Paul

Email: pm2@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2314

Professor Phillip Joseph

Professor of Engineering Acoustics

Research interests

  • Broadband fan noise
  • Shallow water acoustics
  • Active noise control
Connect with Phillip

Email: pfj@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2172

Dr Rie Sugimoto

Senior Research Fellow
Connect with Rie

Email: rs@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2314

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