Experimental Vibroacoustic Measurement of Thin Steel Panels Coated with Different Liquid-Applied Spray Damping Layer Thickness

This study investigates the effect of liquid-applied spray damping (LASD) thickness on the vibration and sound radiation of thin steel panels. Although LASD is widely used to enhance structural damping, its influence on radiated sound and the role of coating thickness have not been systematically studied. Five steel panels with varying LASD thicknesses were evaluated using two experimental approaches. An impact-based method in a hemi-anechoic chamber measured the structural mobility and noise transfer functions, while a reciprocal method in a reverberation chamber under acoustic excitation measured the radiated sound power transfer function. A thickness ratio was found beyond which additional LASD thickness yielded diminishing improvements in noise and vibration reductions. The effect of LASD thickness on radiation efficiency was also assessed in both narrowband and one-third octave bands.