GERB Vibration Control Systems - Vibration Control and Structure Borne Noise Reduction in Shipbuilding

GERB Vibration Control Systems (GERB Schwingungsisolierungen GmbH & Co. KG) has been engaged in the elastic support of heavy industrial machinery and equipment for almost 100 years.

Based on extensive experience, GERB is offering a large variety of steel spring elements and Viscodampers® for the elastic support of machinery and equipment in ships. Vibration and structure borne noise control are important for comfort and safety on-board ships. Often special, sometimes conflicting requirements in regard to vibration control, shock safety and stability have to be met and reconciled.

HELICAL STEEL SPRINGS AND VISCOUS DAMPERS

Noise reduction in shipbuilding is mainly a matter of sufficient structure borne noise and vibration control. Helical steel springs offer a number of advantages compared to other elastic elements. High load capacities and low natural frequencies are the basis for high isolation efficiency. In addition, steel springs have a number of properties, which are important for safety on-board.

• Resistance against high and low temperatures
• Resistance against fire
• High corrosion protection
• No ageing - elastic properties do not change with time
• Maintenance freedom

In combination with viscous dampers, stiffness and damping characteristics of the support system can be optimised independently. GERB Viscodampers® are effective in all degrees of motion freedom, and stabilize and reduce motions in case of impacts.

DOUBLE-ELASTIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS

High noise and vibration control efforts are particularly required for passenger and naval ships - though for different reasons. Here, double-elastic spring systems are often used to achieve the required insertion loss values. The critical equipment is either elastically mounted on a base frame, which in turn is elastically connected with the ship structure, or the spring elements are designed as a double-elastic mounts with intermediate masses. Together with engine manufacturers and independent institutions, GERB has developed and continuously optimised these special support elements.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ON-BOARD SHIPS

Typical applications are elastically supported auxiliary machines, such as diesel generators, compressors and pumps, platforms on submarines, deckhouses and machine control rooms, floating floors and exhaust piping.

OTHER VIBRATION CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Over the last 90 years GERB has developed, influenced, or at least accompanied all major applications in vibration control, including the elastic support of large steam turbines, the introduction of direct spring support of forging hammers and sonar protection systems on naval vessels.

Special Viscodampers® are used in power plants and offshore facilities to protect piping against earthquakes, impacts and operational vibrations. Entire buildings with weights up to 50,000t are elastically supported on steel springs for vibration control, seismic isolation or protection against subsidence.

THE CORPORATE GERB GROUP

GERB has its headquarters, its main manufacturing facility, and the R&D division in Berlin. Technical offices and facilities partly with manufacturing capabilities are spread out all over the world.

GERB offers a number of services:

• Design of vibration isolation systems
• Engineering of spring supported structures including static and dynamic analysis
• Layout and reinforcement drawings
• Supervision, installation and inspection