Wind Turbine Noise Prediction in the Norwegian Context

The PhD candidate is expected to develop an advanced engineering noise prediction model for efficient computation of sound propagation in a range-dependent atmosphere where the vertical sound speed gradient can deviate significantly from the standardized linear and log-linear profiles. The prediction model will consider typical Norwegian scenarios with a low density of buildings at the receiver, steep terrain between the turbines and the receiver with occasional diffraction during propagation. A source model to explore is a distribution of static monopoles (non-aeroacoustic sources) and moving monopoles (aeroacoustic sources). Among other factors, such a source model can be parameterized by the vertical wind speed profile at the turbine. The propagation model will rely on numerically efficient curved ray tracing to account for realistic altitude- and range-dependent sound speed gradients. The noise prediction model is expected to predict time series of sound pressure levels so that the conditions for the occurrence of amplitude modulation at the receiver will be investigated. The PhD project should also permit to evaluate the limits of established engineering methods like ISO 9613-2 or Nord2000 in such typical Norwegian scenarios and to propose amendments to these methods.

The Acoustics Group at the Department of Electronic Systems, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, NTNU has a vacancy for a PhD candidate in Wind Turbine Noise Prediction in the Norwegian Context.

The Acoustics Group studies the generation, propagation and reception of sound waves, as well as transducers and related signal processing, in a wide range of scenarios: sound for the communication between humans (speech and music); the influence of sound (noise) on humans and animals; and technical uses such as for remote sensing, designing materials and devices for noise abatement, biodiversity assessment and underwater communication networks.

The Acoustics Group offers a specialization in acoustics in the 2-year master programme Electronic Systems Design as well as the 5-year ELSYS master program. The Acoustics Group will offer a dedicated 2-year master programme in Sound and Vibration from 2026 on.

The Acoustics Group at NTNU works closely with the SINTEF Acoustics Research Group on the campus of Gløshaugen. This represents a workforce of 30 researchers, professors, postdocs, engineers and PhD candidates.

You must have a Master's degree in acoustics or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 30.11.2025.

You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.

You must meet the requirements for admission to the Electronics and Telecommunications doctoral programme.

You must have Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English.

You must have documented proficiency In programming.

You must have a broad background in mathematics, physics, signal processing and engineering sciences.

Preferred selection criteria

• Aeroacoustics 
• Fluid mechanics
• Numerical methods
• Wind energy