Carbon fiber substitution in shipboard instrument structural mounts for vibration and shock isolation

Abstract

Insufficient support and isolation of rotating and non-rotating shipboard equipment and instruments may cause damage to the components or the ship itself. Reduction of noise emissions to the ship's hull and protection of equipment from outside disturbances may be attained through isolator mounting systems. The objective of this thesis is to investigate and analyze the effects of substituting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) for use in the structural mounts on rotating marine diesel engines and on sensitive, nonrotating Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). The high specific stiffness of CFRP make it an interesting candidate for mounting material substitution. The shipboard components were modeled with mounts made of steel, rubber and CFRP and their step response, impulse response and transmissibility behavior were analyzed. It was concluded that the choice in appropriate mounting materials depends on the application, but CFRP was found in many cases to display similar vibration isolation behavior to steel while being much less dense.