Today’s rapid growth of air traffic puts increasing pressure on the environment, both in terms of climate change and noise hindrance. Propulsion systems with distributed 
propellers may provide energy-efficiency benefits, and are an enabler for the use of electric propulsion system on passenger transport aircraft. However, the noise emissions are a concern. 

The goal of this PhD project is to advance understanding of the complex flow physics of propeller-propeller interactions and to relate these to the near- and far-field acoustic fields. The knowledge acquired will be used to define a low order aeroacoustic source model will be used by others in trajectory or aircraft optimization studies. Special attention will be paid to sources of broadband noise determined by interactions between the distributed propellers and a downstream wing. The work will include wind-tunnel experiments at in-house facilities at TU Delft and DLR Braunschweig, as well as high-fidelity numerical simulations. 

This 4-year PhD project will be shared between the Flow Physics and Technology 
department of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands), and the department of Technical Acoustics at the DLR Institute of 
Aerodynamics and Flow Technology in Braunschweig. It is partially funded by the German research funding organization DFG as project in the Cluster of Excellence “Sustainable and Energy-Efficient aviation” (SE²A), and partially funded by Delft University of Technology. 

The Department of Flow Physics and Technology (FPT) is one of four departments within the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Delft University of Technology. The department operates comprehensive laboratories equipped with modern wind tunnels and state-of-the-art measurement systems. Fundamental aerodynamic research is performed in the Aerodynamics section. Aircraft design, propulsion systems and their integration with the aircraft are the main topics in the Flight Performance and Propulsion section. Wind energy systems, from small wind turbines to large offshore farms, and aeroacoustics are the key research areas in the Wind Energy section.

The DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology is a leading research institute in the field of aerodynamics/aeroacoustics of airplanes and aerothermodynamics of space vehicles. It has two main sites at Braunschweig and Göttingen and has a division at Cologne. More than 350 employees are engaged in numerical and experimental 
investigations on air- and space vehicles. Experiments are performed in wind tunnels and in flight. The department of Technical Acoustics in Braunschweig (Germany) investigates the sound generation at aircraft and develops technologies to reduce respective sources of noise, concerning both community and cabin noise.

The Cluster of Excellence SE²A - Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation is a DFG-funded interdisciplinary research center investigating technologies for a sustainable and eco-friendly air transport system. Scientists from engineering, economics, chemistry and biology are working on the reduction of drag, emissions and noise, life-cycle concepts for airframes, improvements in air traffic management and new technologies for energy storage and conversion. Technische Universität Braunschweig, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), the Braunschweig University of Art (HBK) and the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) have joined forces in this extraordinary scientific undertaking. The overall project is structured into the three core research areas “Assessment of the Air Transport System”, “Flight Physics and Vehicle Systems” and “Energy Storage & Conversion”. (www.tu-braunschweig.de/se2a)

• Master degree (or equivalent) in aerospace or mechanical engineering, acoustics, 
  physics, mathematics, or a related subject.
• Capability to perform high-fidelity aeroacoustic numerical simulations and/or 
  experiments is an asset.
• Capability to work with CFD/CAA software packages and/or with experimental 
  measurement techniques for simulations and experiments of academic and industrial relevance.
• Excellent communication skills in verbal and written English and committed to 
  report the work with publications, benchmarking activities and patents. 

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

The successful candidate will be employed by TU Delft for the entire project duration of 4 years, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 30 months of the project will be performed in Delft at TU Delft, in the department of Flow Physics and Technology of the faculty of Aerospace Engineering. 18 months will be performed at DLR Braunschweig, in the department of Technical Acoustics at the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology in Braunschweig (Germany). These 18 months can be scheduled flexibly, but need to take place in the first 3 years of the project. Financial support for housing during these 18 months will be available.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Since the project is partially funded by the Cluster of Excellence SE²A, the successful 
applicant will also be enrolled in the TU Braunschweig/SE²A Graduate programme. 

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 250 PhD candidates and over 2,700 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.