ISVR-SPCG-114: Active Acoustic Metamaterials for High Performance Noise and Vibration Control

A fully funded industrial CASE studentship is available for a high quality student to work in the area of active metamaterials for noise and vibration control. This is an extremely exciting area of current research, which aims to enhance the performance of passive metamaterials by using active noise and vibration control technology. This work has enormous potential to provide broadband control within a compact, lightweight package and, therefore, overcome the limitations of traditional passive control solutions in a variety of industrial sectors.

Metamaterials possess physical properties not seen in naturally occurring media and of particular interest here are materials with a periodic locally resonant structure. The novel properties of these materials provide a potential means to achieve acoustic cloaking and sub-wavelength acoustic lenses. However, of more importance in noise and vibration isolation is the generation of band-gaps at low frequency where wave transmission is blocked and high levels of attenuation occur. The limitation with passive metamaterials is that band-gaps occur over fixed and very narrow frequency spans. The aim of this project is to overcome this limitation by combining elements from active control with locally resonant metamaterial designs.

This project is supported by a large industrial collaborator, which provides a wide range of potential opportunities for the successful candidate. In particular, it is expected that full-scale trials will be an important part of this project, thus ensuring its impact on real-world engineering.

This position also benefits from a tax-free stipend of between £17,000 and £20,000 depending on the successful candidate’s previous experience. This includes the standard EPSRC studentship of £14,057 and a top-up from the industrial sponsor.

The successful candidate will be based in the Signal Processing and Control Group of the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. This is home to an internationally renowned research group working in diverse areas of signal processing and control.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Jordan Cheer ([Email Address Removed]) and/or Prof. Steve Daley, ([Email Address Removed]).