Abstract
In research vessels or naval ships, airborne noise from machineries such as diesel engine is the major source of underwater noise at low speed. In this paper, effect of engine noise on underwater noise is studied by considering two paths; sound radiation from hull plate and direct airborne noise transmission through hull plate. SEA (Statistical energy analysis) is used to predict hull plate vibration induced by engine noise, where SEA model consists of only two subsystems; engine room air space and hull plate. The pressure level in water is calculated from sound radiation by plate. Engine noise transmission through hull plate is obtained by assuming plane wave propagation in air-limp plate-water system. Two effects are combined and compared to the measurement, where speaker is used as a source in engine room and sound pressure levels in engine room and water are measured. The hydrophone is located 1 m away from the hull plate. It is found below 1000 Hz, prediction overestimates underwater sound pressure level by 5 to 12 dB.