Ship Structural Vibrations and Underwater Acoustics

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions to a dedicated Special Issue focusing on “Ship Structural Vibrations and Underwater Acoustics”. This initiative aims to consolidate cutting-edge research addressing the multidisciplinary challenges posed by vessel-induced vibrations and their acoustic impact on marine environments, naval operations, and global maritime industries.

The urgency of this field stems from escalating environmental concerns, stringent regulatory frameworks, and the demand for stealthier, more efficient naval technologies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fundamental mechanisms and modeling:
  • Vibration propagation mechanisms in ship hulls and offshore structures;
  • Hydroelasticity and fluid–structure interaction (FSI) dynamics;
  • Low-frequency acoustic radiation characteristics of marine vessels;
  • Nonlinear vibration phenomena induced by wave impacts or machinery.
• Advanced materials and structural design for ships and marine structures:
  • Metamaterials and composite structures for vibration/noise suppression;
  • Bio-inspired damping systems (e.g., whale fin-inspired hull designs);
  • Lightweight materials balancing structural integrity and acoustic performance.
• Computational and experimental techniques:
  • High-fidelity CFD-FEA coupled simulations for acoustic prediction;
  • Machine learning/AI-driven models for vibration pattern recognition;
  • Experimental validation using scaled models or full-scale field tests;
  • Sensor networks and IoT-based real-time vibration monitoring systems.
• Environmental and ecological impact:
  • Long-term effects of underwater noise on marine mammals and ecosystems;
  • Noise mapping and cumulative impact assessment in critical habitats;
  • Mitigation strategies aligned with UN SDG 14 (Life Below Water);
  • Bioacoustic studies on species-specific noise tolerance thresholds.
• Marine equipment technology application:
  • Acoustic stealth technologies for submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs);
  • Cavitation control in propellers and energy-efficient propulsion systems;
  • Retrofit solutions for noise reduction in aging fleets;
  • Port and coastal infrastructure protection from vibration-induced fatigue.

We encourage contributions from naval architects, acousticians, marine ecologists, and mechanical engineers to foster cross-disciplinary dialog. Submissions may encompass theoretical studies, experimental validations, computational simulations, or case studies demonstrating real-world applications.

This Special Issue, to be published in a leading peer-reviewed journal, seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial practice, offering actionable insights for sustainable maritime development. Manuscripts should adhere to the journal’s formatting guidelines and undergo rigorous peer review.

Dr. Tiangui Ye
Dr. Yukun Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• analytical and semi-analytic modeling methods
• deep learning and data-driven methods
• numerical prediction and evaluation technology
• active vibration and acoustic radiation control
• passive vibration and acoustic radiation control
• fluid–structure coupling vibration and sound radiation
• transient noise simulation
• high-frequency structure vibration problems
• nonlinear aspects of vibration and acoustic radiation