Noise Control on Ships – Enabling Technologies

Reducing noise, in an optimal manner, has generally been relegated to the acoustical experts in the past. As shown be the Global War on Noise Workshop (2007), there has been an emphasis in the naval community to 1) improve predictive tools, 2) implement advanced control treatments and 3) understand, to a greater degree, the impact of noise on both hearing loss and the warfighters ‟ overall performance. These technologies, if utilized on new ship designs and during retrofits of existing vessels, can enable the warfighter and crews to perform better in an improved acoustic environment. Furthermore, hearing loss impacts and their associated costs will be reduced. At the same time the usual adverse impacts of noise control treatments on weight, space, and cost, including maintainability, will be lessened as will the total cost of ownership. The approach being undertaken by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to reduce Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is described in this paper. Details are provided on existing and improved acoustic modeling tools that can be applied to military programs, such as the potential noise impact of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) on aircraft carriers and Amphibians. Novel control treatments are highlighted including potential weight and energy savings. Proposed changes to existing programmatic/management approaches are also discussed. Bowes, et.al. (2006) showed that the bottom line is that the Return on Investment (ROI) for conducting the appropriate acoustic design rather than pay for veterans‟ hearing loss is on the order of 15:1 along with the added benefit of less hazardous noise exposure and better warfighter performance