Numerical simulation on the noise reduction of underwater pile-driving using a bubble curtain

Abstract

Aiming at the problem of heavy noise pollution caused by underwater piling operation and, to protect the marine ecosystem near the construction site, this paper discusses the attenuation effect of bubble curtain system on underwater noise generated by piling operations, basing on the previous research on underwater bubble sound attenuation and the attenuation characteristics of sound propagation of different media. Using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element analysis software, the noise field of underwater piling and the model of underwater bubble curtain are established to study the influence of the bubble curtain on the pressure peak values at different depths generated by the same noise source, and the attenuation effect of the bubble curtain on underwater noise is discussed. The results show that the peak sound pressure level of underwater noise can be attenuated by about 8 dB using the bubble curtain.