Australian Department of Defence: Noise prediction for marine vessels

This project aims to predict the level of noise generated by turbulent flow from marine vessels. This knowledge will help to design quieter marine vessels and lower underwater noise pollution, which impacts the welfare of marine life.

Challenge

Marine vessels, such as ships and submarines, have large structures that are excited by turbulent flows in the oceans. These structures generate high levels of underwater radiated noise (URN) at a frequency that interferes with the ability of marine species to communicate, hunt, migrate and echolocate. URN is a significant problem for the marine ecosystem, however the underlying noise generation mechanisms are complex and not yet fully understood.

 

Solution

The UTS Tech Lab team are developing mathematical models to predict and understand the hydroacoustic and vibroacoustic responses of marine vessels in turbulent flow. These models will enable the development of targeted noise mitigation strategies and reduce the environmental impact of research, fishing and military vessels.

 

Duration
3 years

Academic team
Dr Mahmoud Karimi

Lab
Acoustics
Laser Doppler Vibrometry

Engagement model
Government-funded project

Funding
ARC DECRA

Future applications
Marine industry (ships & marine vessels)
Aerospace industry (space shuttle, aircraft fuselage)

Area of expertise
Infrastructure, utilities & transport