Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Location:  Highfield Campus
Closing Date:  Saturday 30 July 2022
Reference:  1640321DA

Supervisory Team:    Chaitanya Paruchuri, Phillip Joseph and Bharathram Ganapathisubramani

Project description

The PhD student will address directly the major gap in understanding aimed at enabling the design and development of efficient and quiet future multi-rotor propulsion systems. This project describes detailed flow and noise measurements in state-of-the-art facilities to gain a fundamental understanding into the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of overlapping propeller systems. High fidelity flow and noise data will be used to establish new design principles and semi-analytical predictive models for high-efficiency low-noise multi-rotor configurations.

The Phd student will carry out aerodynamic measurements using state-of-the-art imaging techniques in brand-new experimental facilities and developing the analytical model for the prediction of noise and compare against acoustic measurements. You will join the highly motivated researchers in the Acoustics group at the Institute of sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), which is recognised as one of the world’s leading centres for the investigation of sound and vibration phenomena.

The global interest in small multi-rotor drones, unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) is growing rapidly. It is now widely accepted that noise is one of the main factors that could limit the public acceptance and adoption of drones. Drones are currently designed for performance, with relatively little consideration given to noise. In this project, you will have the unique opportunity to design new experiments in state-of-the-art wind tunnels (brand-new boundary layer tunnel and aeroacoustic wind tunnel), record and analyse high-fidelity experimental data acquired using advanced flow diagnostic methods. 

You should have a first-class degree in a general area of Engineering. You should have interest and some experience either with carrying out experimental work or developing analytical methods. A strong mathematical and computing (MATLAB, PYTHON etc.) foundation is necessary for development of data analysis codes and subsequent model synthesis.

International students with a strong CV are encouraged to apply before Feb 1^st 2022 such that the applications are put forward for presidential scholarship scheme to request for full international fees. 

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr. Chaitanya Paruchuri and  Acoustic Research Group, Email: ccp1m17@soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 9458.

Also please contact Prof. Bharathram Ganapathisubramani and  Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Research Group, Email: g.bharath@soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 2305.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: This position will be filled based on first come first serve bases. Applications should be received no later than 30 July 2022 for standard admissions. 

Deadline for international funding is 1^st Feb 2022.

Funding: full tuition fee plus, for UK students, an enhanced stipend of £15,609 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years. 

Eligible for Presidential scholarship (full tuition fee plus stipend) for international students (Deadline 1^st Feb 2022 for international funding).

How To Apply

Apply online. Select programme type (Research), 2022/23, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD  Engineering & Environment (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Chaitanya Paruchuri 

Applications should include: 

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts to date

Apply online: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk