INnoVative dEsign of iNstalled airframe componenTs for aircraft nOise Reduction - INVENTOR

Research Project, 2020 – 2024

Aircraft are noisy, especially during approach; landing gears and high-lift devices are the chief noise sources. Reducing noise levels is a challenging priority, since noise pollution poses a high risk to human health. The EU-funded INVENTOR project will study the physics of noise generated by landing gears and high-lift devices at landing/approach. Bringing together 16 partners (research and technology organisations (RTOs), large industries, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) from 7 EU countries, the project will significantly contribute to Europe’s leadership in aircraft noise reduction and solutions. INVENTOR's main goal is to develop innovative low-noise installed landing gear, high-lift device components and noise reduction technologies, in order to lower external noise from business jet and short-to-medium-range transport aircraft.

Mitigating aircraft noise on both modern and future aircraft is a significant challenge for the EU considering the increase of air traffic and extension of urban areas together with the increasing public health concern. Aircraft noise results from the combination of engine noise, significantly reduced after decades of intensive research, and airframe noise, mostly generated by landing gears (LGs) and high-lift devices (HLDs). Strong integration constraints imposed by other considerations than acoustics and our limited knowledge of the complex flow physics mechanisms generating airframe noise have so far limited the development of noise reduction technologies (NRTs) on airframe components such as LGs and HLDs. Direct design of low-noise airframe components based on multi-disciplinary criteria (including acoustics), remains a challenge as well.

Therefore, the primary goal of INVENTOR is to better understand the physics of noise generated by LGs and HLDs thanks to intensive use of new, advanced numerical methods. The ultimate goal is to decrease the external noise from business jet and short-medium range transport aircraft through the development of innovative low-noise installed LG and HLD components as well as new promising NRTs, thus contributing to the achievement of the Flightpath 2050 goals pursued by ACARE SRIA on aviation noise. The main Key Performance Indicator in terms of noise reduction will be to lower far-field noise generated by installed LGs and HLDs at landing/approach by respectively 2-3 and 1dB(A). Considering an equal contribution of engine and airframe to noise, we aim to reach an overall gain of about 1 dB(A) on full aircraft extrapolation in approach certification conditions. INVENTOR, gathering 16 partners (RTOs, large industries, SMEs) from 7 EU countries with a budget of €5 M will significantly contribute to Europe’s leadership in aircraft noise reduction and solutions; and increase the competitiveness of the European aviation industry.