A quiet revolution in aircraft technology

With the global expansion in air travel, aircraft noise has become a major public issue. For over 40 years our engineers and scientists have been working in partnership with industry to cut the noise from aircraft, resulting in new noise-reduction technologies being incorporated into today's planes.

The University's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) is one of 28 Rolls-Royce University Technology Centres around the world, an acknowledgement of our world-leading expertise and exceptional facilities in this field.

The partnership has led to pioneering work to reduce noise pollution in our skies, contributing to today's jets making less than 100th of the sound generated by aircraft in the past.

The main sources of engine noise come from the blades of the fan at the front of the engine and the jet exhausting at the rear. Our research has focused on gaining a better understanding of both of these noise sources and on developing new technologies to reduce their effect.

Recent achievements include the design of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, built into the new Airbus A380 airliner, which benefited from years of research at Southampton. The new Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' is powered by another new quiet engine from Rolls-Royce designed with input from our researchers.

Andrew Kempton, Chief Noise Specialist at Rolls-Royce, comments: "Rolls-Royce has a long, proud history of working with universities, creating a win/win situation where the university is funded to work on important industrial challenges. The ISVR brings a breadth and depth of knowledge, an independence of thought and an aptitude for innovation that helps ensure the best technology is built into Rolls-Royce engines."