Enhanced Vibration Damping Properties of Novel Mn-Cu Alloy for Ship Structural Applications

Low-frequency vibrations in ships have detrimental effects on the lifespan of onboard equipment and the comfort of crew members, thereby highlighting the importance of developing efficient vibration-damping materials as a critical research area. This study investigates the application of Mn-Cu damping alloys for mitigating vibrations within the 0–1000 Hz frequency range, which is typical of ship environments. The vibration-damping characteristics of the material were examined through a combination of experimental and numerical simulations. A numerical simulation framework was developed to predict the vibration response of manganese-copper damping alloys, incorporating a frequency-dependent damping ratio model derived from experimental characterization. Comparative analyses validated the accuracy of vibration simulations that incorporate frequency-dependent damping ratios and demonstrated the superior vibration attenuation performance of the Mn-Cu damping alloy across the 0-1000 Hz frequency band. Deck application analysis revealed that manganese-copper damping devices reduced the root mean square (RMS) vibration acceleration of the ship deck by up to 17.5% in the 0-1000 Hz frequency range compared to aluminum alloy counterparts. The damping effect was particularly significant in the 400–1000 Hz range, where vibration energy dissipation was most effective due to the material's intrinsic damping mechanisms. Additional engineering evaluation confirmed that the Mn-Cu alloy components maintain structural integrity while providing enhanced damping performance under typical marine environmental conditions. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for the design of ship vibration-damping materials, expands the potential applications of damping alloys in marine engineering, and provides valuable reference data for material selection and vibration control design in shipbuilding and offshore engineering applications.