VIPER

The transition to more sustainable aviation can be achieved through new technologies such as innovative propulsion systems and ultralight materials. However, these lead to new, complex noise and vibration behavior that cannot be reliably predicted with current methods. The core challenge is the conflict of objectives between aircraft efficiency (less weight/CO₂) and passenger comfort (cabin noise level). Due to their additional mass, conventional acoustic countermeasures negate the efficiency advantages. ViPEr provides the decisive, technology-independent solution here: a validated simulation methodology to optimise cabin comfort digitally at an early stage for every future aircraft generation. The project is thus an indispensable pioneer in making sustainable aviation innovations possible in the first place.

ViPEr will develop and validate new noise prediction methods in order to make the expected noise propagation in aircraft cabins, caused by new eco-efficient open rotor propulsion systems but also by flow noise, predictable and assessable. Since the tonal propeller noise generated by these propulsion systems in particular is perceived by passengers as particularly disturbing and countermeasures impair the efficiency of the aircraft due to the additional weight, the availability of a validated method is of great importance. The results of ViPEr will make it possible to evaluate the effects and effectiveness of acoustic countermeasures already in the design process, thus ensuring the feasibility of new propulsion concepts for future passenger aircraft.