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Project

Contextualizing Numerical acoustics - Auralization schemes for acoustics design assessment using numerical acoustics simulation results

In their multiphysics portfolio, CAE software vendors include high-end acoustics simulation capabilities, which are typically based on finite element, finite volume or boundary element methods. These methods are routinely used in industry to design the sound of a wide range of industrial products. While the methods themselves are accurate and robust, the post-processing environment is not suited for this particular physics. The current workflow of CAE software packages, which were designed a few decades ago, is very 'design centric' instead of “user centric”, and does not generally allow any immersive experience. For acoustics, which is a perceptive field of science, this is a strong limitation. To give a concrete example, as a criterion for their design exploration, engineers currently focus on objective metrics, such as decibels and/or sound colormaps. Perception/subjectivity of the sound, as well as the environment in which the sound will be heard is not included in their initial ranking, and psycho-acoustics assessment only come at a later stage in the design cycle. The objective of the PhD is to create a “user centric” CAE acoustics software workflow by developing an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environment. Computer graphics community has developed physics-based simulation methods for real time acoustics rendering of complex sources in a scene. Innovative virtual Reality tools, including stereophony and stereoscopy will be assessed to allow designers to “listen to their design”, in a virtualized scene that reproduces as closely as possible the context in which the product will operate (e.g. including visual rendering, room acoustics and possibly, the presence of other, secondary sound sources). Stereophony and stereoscopy will be included to create a fully immersive post-processing experience.

Date:7 Jul 2021 →  Today
Keywords:Auralization, Numerical Acoustics, Virtual Reality
Disciplines:Acoustics, noise and vibration engineering
Project type:PhD project