Some Observations on the Achievable Properties of Diesel Isolation Systems

Abstract

Diesel engines offer such huge advantages in operating economy that they cannot be ignored in studies for new designs of quiet surface vessel. It is equally well established that either propulsion diesel engines or diesel generator sets bolted to ship seatings are such intense sources of hull vibration and underwater noise that their use in quiet ships can only be contemplated if isolation systems with high effectiveness can be designed and installed. The purpose of this paper is to indicate some of the problems that must be addressed in order to achieve high isolation effectiveness and to demonstrate the performance that might be anticipated in practice.