Aeroacoustic source mechanisms of fixed-wing VTOL configuration at takeoff hover
Aeroacoustic source mechanisms of fixed-wing VTOL configuration at takeoff hover
This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the dominant noise
generation mechanisms of unmanned Fixed-wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
propeller–wing configurations during takeoff. This paper reports the velocity measurements
made in the close vicinity of a scale-model propeller adjacent to a flat plate or wing, aimed
at understanding and characterising its dominant noise generation mechanisms. This paper
identifies two main interaction mechanisms. The first is a purely acoustical phenomenon
whereby the wing acts as an image source causing strong interference between the direct
and image noise sources due to the propeller. The second is a significant noise increase
resulting from the unsteady blade loading that occurs when the blade passes over the wing
at lower vertical separation distances. Other, more minor noise sources from the propeller
and the wing are also discussed in this paper.
aeroacoustics, unmanned fixed-wing VTOL, unsteady loading noise
Paruchuri, Chaitanya
5c1def64-6347-4be3-ac2d-b9f6a314b81d
Corbishley, Thomas
1ec389b5-6459-4a3d-98ba-7a7eeb700c7e
Palleja-Cabre, Sergi
b841a96c-05d1-4f08-a197-8693cb3a3f90
Cho, Minki
cb5a2630-1004-4101-8bb0-79180fb0922d
Karimian, Amin
8f2e1624-afff-4e07-b2cd-e780209608d7
Joseph, Phillip
9c30491e-8464-4c9a-8723-2abc62bdf75d
Akiwate, Deepak C.
b6f50d26-e59b-413e-9c66-0ee0a869813c
Westcott, Oliver
ab2090d6-fa00-44dc-b64d-5346c60a929b
Krishna, Swathi
b8d18885-c9af-4d17-8ddf-cec91e1663c9
15 December 2025
Paruchuri, Chaitanya
5c1def64-6347-4be3-ac2d-b9f6a314b81d
Corbishley, Thomas
1ec389b5-6459-4a3d-98ba-7a7eeb700c7e
Palleja-Cabre, Sergi
b841a96c-05d1-4f08-a197-8693cb3a3f90
Cho, Minki
cb5a2630-1004-4101-8bb0-79180fb0922d
Karimian, Amin
8f2e1624-afff-4e07-b2cd-e780209608d7
Joseph, Phillip
9c30491e-8464-4c9a-8723-2abc62bdf75d
Akiwate, Deepak C.
b6f50d26-e59b-413e-9c66-0ee0a869813c
Westcott, Oliver
ab2090d6-fa00-44dc-b64d-5346c60a929b
Krishna, Swathi
b8d18885-c9af-4d17-8ddf-cec91e1663c9
Paruchuri, Chaitanya, Corbishley, Thomas, Palleja-Cabre, Sergi, Cho, Minki, Karimian, Amin, Joseph, Phillip, Akiwate, Deepak C., Westcott, Oliver and Krishna, Swathi
(2025)
Aeroacoustic source mechanisms of fixed-wing VTOL configuration at takeoff hover.
Drones, 9 (12), [864].
(doi:10.3390/drones9120864).
Abstract
This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the dominant noise
generation mechanisms of unmanned Fixed-wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
propeller–wing configurations during takeoff. This paper reports the velocity measurements
made in the close vicinity of a scale-model propeller adjacent to a flat plate or wing, aimed
at understanding and characterising its dominant noise generation mechanisms. This paper
identifies two main interaction mechanisms. The first is a purely acoustical phenomenon
whereby the wing acts as an image source causing strong interference between the direct
and image noise sources due to the propeller. The second is a significant noise increase
resulting from the unsteady blade loading that occurs when the blade passes over the wing
at lower vertical separation distances. Other, more minor noise sources from the propeller
and the wing are also discussed in this paper.
Text
drones-09-00864-v2
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 9 December 2025
Published date: 15 December 2025
Keywords:
aeroacoustics, unmanned fixed-wing VTOL, unsteady loading noise
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 508994
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508994
ISSN: 2504-446X
PURE UUID: e1d4cf56-a742-4dee-bcb1-c72dd16849d8
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Date deposited: 09 Feb 2026 17:58
Last modified: 10 Feb 2026 03:22
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Contributors
Author:
Thomas Corbishley
Author:
Minki Cho
Author:
Deepak C. Akiwate
Author:
Oliver Westcott
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