Reducing aircraft noise with computer graphics

Abstract

Excessive noise is a part of almost everyone's life, whether it comes from the next-door neighbor running his leaf blower or cars driving by with stereos blasting. But for those who live near airports or air force bases, noise is a constant distraction that can cause stress and other health-related problems. For the military and commercial airlines, more stringent noise emission standards are increasingly becoming an issue, as they must try to meet federal guidelines or face restrictive night-flight rules, increased no-fly zones, and additional airport fees. For these reasons, industries, governments, and educational institutions such as Pennsylvania State University are conducting research to help reduce the noise pollution caused by jets and helicopters. Penn State's aerospace engineering department has been using high-end parallel computers, virtual reality systems, and advanced visualization software to test the causes of aircraft noise and find ways to reduce it.