The Development of 'Chevron' Nozzles for Aeroengines
- When?
- Tuesday 26 March 2013, 14:00 to 15:00
- Where?
- 40 AA 03
- Open to:
- Alumni, Public, Staff, Students
- Speaker:
- Mr Craig Mead, Director at Aero Acoustics Ltd
- Admission information:
- Free
Chevron nozzles are noise reduction devices for aeroengines, as perhaps most noticeably used on the Boeing 787. The development of these devices will be presented with the aim of illustrating the path of development of a new low-noise technology for an aeroengine and to show the on-going value of experimental R&D in an increasingly computational field.
Craig has 20 years’ experience of aeroacoustic testing and development of low-noise technology for aircraft. After graduating from Southampton University in 1992, he joined the Defence Research Agency at Pyestock, which later became the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency before being privatised as QinetiQ. In the early part of his career Craig worked on the development and optimisation of forced mixers and chevron nozzles and the development of prediction methods for coaxial jet noise and installation effects. During this period he gained an understanding of the complexities of making acoustic and aerodynamic measurements in large test facilities.
Later Craig’s areas of work widened to include other aircraft noise sources such as landing gear and propellers, acoustic detection and environmental impact of air vehicles, and the noise from wind turbines. He has also led or participated in several open-field noise trials of UAVs, fast jets, gun fire and civil airliners. After a short period with Rolls-Royce as a ‘Subject Matter Expert’ in combustion noise, Craig has recently set up his own concern, Aero Acoustics Ltd, where he continues to specialise in aeroacoustic measurements.
