Arrangement Optimization of Multiple Elastic Supports for Piping System Using Genetic Algorithm

The elastic connections between the pipe to the hull, or the elastic supports, are widely applied on ships to reduce the vibration transmission. Optimizing the arrangement of the elastic supports is an efficient and economical way to improve the acoustic performance of the ship, since it can make the natural frequency of the piping system away from the excitation frequency of the engine and thus avoid resonance. In this work, an L-type liquid-filled pipe with multiple adjustable elastic supports is studied. The finite element model of the piping system is established based on the parametric modeling method. With the difference between the excitation frequency of the pump and the first natural frequency of the pipe set as the objective function, the genetic algorithm is applied to look for the optimal arrangement of elastic supports so that the maximum value of the objective function is obtained. In this case, the vibration transmission from the pipe to the hull is demonstrated to be effectively reduced, which helps realize the goal of the low-noise vessel. This study can provide useful guidance on the optimization design of marine piping systems.