Incorporating Phononic Metamaterials into the Design of VTOL Aircraft

I’m advancing a thesis that investigates how phononic metamaterials can be woven into the structure of next-generation VTOL aircraft to curb cabin noise without adding unwanted mass. My chief interest is noise reduction, and within that broad field I’m zeroing in on acoustic performance analysis rather than the preliminary material-selection stage or high-level structural layout.

To achieve this, I need a simulation-driven study. Finite-element or boundary-element modelling in tools such as COMSOL, ANSYS, Abaqus, Actran, or a comparable acoustic solver will be central. The work should replicate—or, if possible, improve upon—state-of-the-art approaches to modelling phononic band-gap behaviour, quantify insertion loss across target frequency ranges, and translate those findings into practical design recommendations for VTOL cabin panels or airframe sections.

Deliverables
• A validated simulation model (geometry, material cards, boundary conditions, solver settings) capable of predicting the acoustic transmission loss of proposed phononic metamaterial inserts.
• A concise technical report summarising methodology, key results, and design implications for VTOL architecture, including visual outputs such as dispersion curves and SPL maps.
• Recommendations for prototype fabrication or follow-on experimental testing so that the study can transition from purely numerical analysis to a mixed numerical/empirical phase.

Acceptance criteria: The model must resolve at least the first three relevant band gaps, provide convergence evidence, and demonstrate a minimum 6 dB predicted noise reduction in the 200–800 Hz range that dominates passenger-perceived cabin noise.

If you have a strong background in aero-acoustics, metamaterial research, and advanced numerical simulation, I’d be glad to collaborate and integrate your findings into my thesis.