ABSTRACT
One of the major sources of noise in mechanical equipment is the noise produced by energy radiated from vibrating solid surfaces in the machine. In addition, noise may be produced when vibratory motion or forces are transmitted from the machine to its support structure, through connecting piping, etc. Noise reduction may be achieved by isolating the vibrations of the machine from the connected elements. For the case of noise generated by a vibrating panel on the machine, noise reduction may be achieved by using damping materials on the panel to dissipate the mechanical energy, instead of radiating the energy into the surrounding air. In this chapter, we will consider some of the techniques for vibration isolation for machinery and examine some of the materials used in isolation of vibrations from equipment.
