An integrated toolchain for the design of aeroacoustic metamaterials: The H2020 project AERIALIST

The project AERIALIST (AdvancEd aicRaft-noIse-AlLeviation devIceS using meTamaterials), funded within the Breakthrough Innovation topic of the H2020 program, has closed its activity on May 2020. The objective of the project was the disclosure of the potential of metamaterials in developing disruptive devices for the mitigation of aircraft noise, in order to contribute to the identification of the breakthrough technologies targeted at the achievement of the noise reduction targets foreseen by the ACARE Flightpath 2050. Although targeted to low TRL, AERIALIST has been focused on the development of an integrated toolchain capable to address the entire design loop, from the early conception to the numerical and experimental proof of concept, up to the final design and manufacturing. The toolchain was founded onto four pillars: i) the extension of the acoustic metamaterial theory to aeroacoustics; ii) the exploitation of the latest additive manufacturing technologies; iii) the wind-tunnel assessment of the selected concepts; iv) the identification of a development roadmap towards higher TRL. After three years of activity, the project has attained all its objectives. The present paper is a review of the main outcomes of the project, their application potential and relevance to the ACARE objectives.