At the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), researchers are advancing the “Vibroacoustics” project under the Priority-2030 program, focusing on developing a methodology for acoustically optimizing passenger cabins in commercial aircraft. The initiative aims to reduce noise levels in passenger areas while meeting current and anticipated environmental standards for aviation equipment, according to the MAI press office.
The project is based on spherical beamforming technology for spatial analysis of the cabin sound field. This approach allows engineers to identify noise and vibration sources within the cabin’s actual configuration, including installed seats and interior panels. Based on the collected data, the team can determine areas requiring additional soundproofing and absorption, as well as regions where the mass of acoustic materials can be reduced without compromising passenger comfort.
Developers compare this approach with traditional intensity-based mapping methods, which create noise maps by sequentially scanning surfaces with a probe. Such methods are limited because they do not account for cabin interior elements and fail to reflect the true acoustic environment of an in-service aircraft. Spherical beamforming, by contrast, captures spatially resolved spectral characteristics directly at key measurement points within the cabin.
Practical testing of the methodology is planned in collaboration with a commercial aviation partner, with a series of flight trials scheduled on an experimental aircraft in late February. The program will deploy a distributed network of microphones and vibration sensors along the passenger cabin, integrated with a spherical multi-microphone array. These flight tests will generate detailed data on spectral and overall noise characteristics, linked to specific noise sources and airframe components.
The results will inform engineering recommendations for optimizing the placement of acoustic materials and interior components. The methodology aligns with GOST R 70066-2022, adopted in 2023 as a national standard in Russia and China, developed with MAI specialists’ participation.
Following the experimental phase, developers plan to engage specialized industry clients focused on cabin acoustic design. They are also considering adapting the methodology for other transportation modes with enclosed passenger compartments.
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