Degradation of Sailor Performance due to Noise and Vibration at their Berthing Quarters - A Review and Recommended Approach

In today's Navy or commercial shipping, sailors and crew are subjected to ever increasing tasks that often requires them to work at their peak performance. Undisturbed and restful sleep are essential to maintain peak performance. However, close working quarters inside a marine vehicle, such as submarines or surface ships, can be detrimental to crew sleep cycles. Two main sources of crew sleep disturbance are noise and vibrations. Effective solutions are required to bolster the natural sleep cycle for more curative rest. Such solutions may utilize sound damping materials to reduce structural vibrations that result in airborne noises onboard marine platforms. A submarine environment causes additional complications. The tight spacing of bunks, typically 76" x 26" with 2 ft height, limits solutions. Not altering the ability of sailors, to hear, recognize, and respond to emergency and urgent signals, adds more restrictions. In a marine vehicle, all material must meet strict fire and safety requirements. Cost and ease of use are considered when determining viability of a solution. A review of current noise and vibrations in crew berthing areas is presented. Sources of sleep disturbances are identified. Solutions are reviewed based on technical approach and used materials.