Honeycomb design curbs jet noise.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS

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* Jet aircraft noise in and around airports is a major pain for persons living near these transportation hubs. The upshot is that complex sound abatement for take-off and landings are required, which often make aircraft interiors extremely loud.

In association with EADS North America, Georgia Tech Research Institute has embarked on a new approach to the physics of sound reduction. Engineers there are using "honeycomb-like structures that are composed of many tiny tubes or channels" to better control this irritating noise.

This approach...