Overview
The article discusses the critical research area of Noise and Vibration (N&V) management on-board marine platforms. It highlights multiple applications, including crew comfort, preventive maintenance, and underwater noise management. The evolution of N&V studies, spanning from mechanical devices to advanced computational methods, is outlined. Various purposes of N&V studies on marine vessels are detailed, emphasizing crew habitability, equipment maintenance, and acoustic stealth for naval platforms. The article also covers noise and vibration sources, measurement parameters and tools, as well as analysis techniques.
It discusses various paths of noise transmission, including airborne, structure-borne, duct-borne, and fluid-borne paths, along with relevant regulations and standards set by international bodies like the IMO and ISO. Stakeholders involved in noise mitigation, applications in crew habitability and failure analysis, and the evolution of noise regulations on ships are also highlighted.
The article discusses the significance of vibration analysis and condition-based preventive maintenance (CBPM) in maintaining ship machinery. Transfer Path Analysis (TPA) methods are explored for understanding mechanical vibration transmission. Furthermore, the article addresses challenges in research, such as the lack of an open database for ship parameters, and proposes the automation of noise and vibration analysis as a direction for future study.
Key highlights
- Noise and Vibration (N&V) management on marine platforms is crucial for crew comfort, equipment maintenance, and underwater noise reduction.
- N&V management addresses crew health, equipment maintenance, and acoustic stealth for naval platforms.
- Analysis involves extracting parameters like RMS values for assessing signal strength and potential damage.
- Identification of different noise transmission paths airborne, structure-borne, duct-borne, and fluid-borne.
- Importance of noise reduction for crew habitability and human fatigue mitigation.
- Emphasis on understanding and mitigating underwater radiated noise for marine habitat protection.
- Acoustic modeling techniques like FEM, BEM, and SEA are used for analysis.
- Empirical models such as SNAME and TNO Cabin predict noise levels on ships.
- Transfer Path Analysis (TPA) methods are employed for understanding vibration transmission.
- Automation of noise and vibration analysis is proposed for future research.
Key Challenges
- Managing noise and vibration (N&V) on marine vessels is challenging due to the multitude of sources, including propulsion systems, HVAC, and auxiliary machinery.
- Marine environments present complex acoustic dynamics, requiring sophisticated modeling techniques for accurate analysis.
- Acoustic Stealth: Maintaining acoustic stealth for naval vessels is challenging, requiring continuous monitoring and management of underwater radiated noise.
- Predicting noise levels accurately requires machine-specific parameters and advanced modeling tools, posing challenges for accurate estimation.
- Collecting real-time data for N&V analysis, especially in remote marine environments, poses logistical challenges.
- Addressing the complex nature of noise transmission paths in maritime environments.
- Identifying and modeling various noise-generating sources on board ships and linking them to URN poses a significant challenge.
- Understanding the complex acoustic transmission paths and the influence of ship structure design on noise transmission remains a challenge.Top of Form
Major Opportunities
- Integrating cutting-edge technology like high-resolution sensors and AI-driven analytics presents opportunities to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of N&V management.
- Creating innovative solutions to meet evolving regulatory standards for noise and vibration levels presents opportunities for market leadership and differentiation.
- Investing in technologies and design solutions to mitigate noise and vibration levels onboard can improve crew comfort, productivity, and overall satisfaction.
- Managing underwater radiated noise effectively can contribute to environmental conservation by minimizing disturbances to marine ecosystems and protected species.
- Investing in education and training programs focused on N&V management can cultivate a skilled workforce, drive innovation, and ensure the adoption of best practices across the industry.
- Development of open databases for ship parameters can facilitate research and model training for underwater radiated noise (URN) studies.
- Advancements in data processing and data science algorithms can streamline the automation of noise and vibration analysis
“The management of Noise and Vibration (N&V) on-board marine platforms is a critical research area with diverse applications which involves analyzing transmission paths through different mediums, such as air and water.“
