The Acoustics and Vibration Research Group is one of the six research groups in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University. Studying acoustic and vibration phenomena is paramount for engineering design of safer and environmentally friendlier aircraft and road vehicles.

Activities of the Group are concentrated on teaching Engineering Mechanics (Statics and Introduction to Dynamics), Dynamics and different optional modules on Acoustics and Vibration for aeronautical and automotive students in the Department and on research into acoustic, vibration, and structural dynamics phenomena in Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering. Recent research was supported by grants from the EPSRC, The Royal Society, TNO Institute of Applied Physics, and Loughborough University.

The Group enjoys excellent experimental facilities which include a new purpose-built Acoustics and Vibration Laboratory comprising state-of-the-art Anechoic and Reverberation chambers (see below for more details).

Major areas of current research activity are:

Departmental Noise and Vibration Laboratory

Anechoic Chamber

Construction:

The Anechoic Chamber is built as a double-shell system. It is acoustically isolated from the rest of the building and from adjacent reverberation chamber by an air gap and is supported on vibration isolation mounts. The inner wall consists of concrete, at least 230 mm thick, the outer wall is a brickwork. The inner room is mounted on VIBREX OMEGA springs. The room has a wire mesh floor. For bringing in larger test objects, including passenger cars, the room can be provided with a removable grid floor.

Wall lining:

Walls, ceiling and floor of the Anechoic Chamber are lined with glass-fiber wedges (G+H ASONAD) that provide sound absorption at frequencies above 100 Hz and thus prevent sound reflection from the room boundaries, so that free-field conditions hold.

Dimensions:

The effective dimensions between wedges are:
L x W x H=6.4 x 5.2 x 5.3 m (176.4 cubic metres)

The acoustically usable 'free field' range measures are:
L x W x H=4.7 x 3.5 x 3.6 m (59.2 cubic metres)

Access:

The Anechoic Chamber can be accessed from the Reverberation Chamber through a double wing door, from the outside through a personal emergency door, and through a vehicle access door. The two doors to the outside are built as double door systems.

Reverberation Chamber

Construction:

The Reverberation Chamber is the inner shell of a double shell building structure. It is made of concrete.

Dimensions:

The clear measures of the room are:
L x W x H=11.5 x 7.0 x 6.0 m (483 cubic metres)

The Reverberation Chamber is not empty: all acoustic equipment of the Acoustics and Vibration Research Unit, including furniture, are kept inside.

Access:

The Reverberation Chamber can be accessed from the outside through a double door system. At the opposite side the door to the Anechoic Chamber is located.

The Anechoic Chamber can be let to external users. Further information can be obtained from:

Professor Victor V. Krylov
Tel: 44 (0)1509 227216
Fax: 44 (0)1509 227275
EMail: V.V.Krylov@lboro.ac.uk

In addition, the Unit works closely with the Department's Aerodynamics Research Group on the development of computational aero-acoustics (CAA) methods.

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