We are pleased to share a terrific article authored by Peter Lynde, PE, of Albert Kahn Associates, titled “Establishing an Industry Benchmark: Mercury Marine Builds Innovative World-Class Testing Facility” published in the December 2019 issue of NOISE/NEWS. The article provides an in depth study of the construction of Mercury Marine’s unique Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) testing facility, from concept and design through operation and testing.
Ground borne vibrations from a nearby highway and surrounding manufacturing activities required the use of structural spring supports to mitigate the energy and ensure accurate test results. We worked very closely with the design and construction teams, and our long time Wisconsin representative, Fluid Handling, in the design and supply of 42 type SLR mountings with capacities up to 12,000 lbs. to isolate and support the laboratory.
As Mr. Lynde discusses, “Hemi-anechoic test facilities are nothing new within the NVH testing community; however, supporting test rooms on a steel coil vibration isolation system above a 66,000 gallon water reservoir was viewed as a one-of-a-kind installation. Driven by the presence of undesirable ambient ground vibration, isolation of the acoustic test chamber was deemed essential. Once value engineering analyses concluded coiled steel springs to be the best choice for the isolation system, the challenge became how to integrate these springs into the test facility. Test room floors are 6-inch-thick steel-reinforced concrete slabs designed for added stiffness to mitigate the potential for floor resonance. Vibration isolating mounts are placed between the foundation walls/piers and the underside of the test room floor and serve to isolate the test room floor and acoustic room structure from any remaining unwanted ground-borne vibration. The acoustic panel test chamber and its steel structural frame are supported on the perimeter of the floor slab, where the slab transfers its dead and live loads through a total of 42 steel coil isolation mounts. Mount loadings vary considerably and range from 2 kips to nearly 12 kips. Steel spring isolating elements afford 90 percent isolation efficiency from disturbing frequencies of 8 Hz and higher.”
We appreciate Albert Khan and Mercury Marine inviting us to provide a small, but important, piece of this unique, world-class, acoustical facility.
Many labs require structural isolation, and most all include floating floors and ceilings, as well as extensive isolation for mechanical and electrical systems. Our experienced team of engineers are here to help with these complex projects. We look forward to working with you.
Download “Mercury Marine Noise, Vibration and Harshness Technical Center”
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