Active Control of Vibration and Noise Radiation from Fluid-Loaded Cylinder using Active Constrained Layer Damping

Vibration and sound radiation from fluid-loaded cylindrical shells are controlled using patches of Active Constrained Layer Damping (ACLD). The performance and the enhanced damping characteristics via reduced vibrations and sound radiation in the surrounding fluid is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. A prime motivation for this work is the potential wide applications in submarines and torpedoes where acoustic stealth is critical to the effectiveness of missions.

A finite element model is also developed to predict the vibration and the acoustic radiation in the surrounding fluid of the ACLD-treated cylinders. The developed model is used to study the effectiveness of the control and placement strategies of the ACLD in controlling the fluid-structure interactions. A water tank is constructed that incorporates test cylinders treated with two ACLD patches placed for targeting specific vibration modes. Using this arrangement, the effectiveness of different control strategies is studied when the submerged cylinders are subjected to internal excitation, and the radiated sound pressure level in the water is observed. Comparisons are made between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions to validate the finite element model.