Passive Control of the Vibration and Sound Radiation from Submerged Shells

Vibration and noise radiation from fluid-loaded cylindrical shells are controlled using multiple stiffeners and Passive Constrained Layer Damping treatment. Dynamic and fluid finite element models are developed to study the fundamental phenomena governing the interaction between the stiffened shell, with and without damping, and the fluid domain surrounding it. The models are used to predict the response of the shell and to evaluate the effect of the stiffening rings and damping treatment on both the structural vibration and noise radiation in the fluid domain. The prediction of the models are validated experimentally and against the predictions of a commercial FE software package (ANSYS). It is shown that stiffening of the shell reduces the amplitude of the vibration and noise radiation, particularly for high order lobar modes. The attenuation of the shell response and sound radiation can be significantly increased through the application of Passive Constrained Layer Damping treatment on the inner surface of the stiffening rings. The numerical and experimental validations demonstrate the accuracy of the developed models and emphasize its potential extension to the application of smart materials for active control of vibration and noise radiation from fluid-loaded shells.