Flow Control and Vibration Isolation for IMP Quieting

The team of Techsburg and Virginia Tech's Vibration and Acoustic Lab (VT VAL) proposes to continue development of and demonstrate the application of flow control and vibration isolation approaches for quieting of future integrated motor propulsor (IMP) designs. These approaches will be experimentally demonstrated in a simulated IMP device in a laboratory water tunnel. Innovative concepts for vibration isolation and flow control will also be investigated using advanced instrumentation, including high-data rate DPIV measurements for flow diagnostics. The IMP is considered the propulsion system of the future for torpedoes and other underwater vehicles. Hence, minimizing IMP mechanical and flow-induced vibration, as well as flow-induced noise is important for managing future vehicle acoustic signatures. The team of Techsburg and the Virginia Tech VAL group is ideally suited to successfully complete this project due to many previous years of joint project experience with active and passive flow control work in turbomachinery. Key VT VAL experience in vibration isolator design and application will also contribute greatly to the project.