The effect of vibration frequency and amplitude on biofouling deterrence

Abstract

The use of vibration is proposed as a means of controlling the settlement of marine fouling organisms. In this study, panels with embedded lead zirconate titanate, known as PZT, were placed in the field over 3 months. The panels were vibrated at different velocity levels at frequencies between 70 and 445 Hz. It was found that barnacles (Amphibalanus variegatus Darwin and Elminius sp.) were the only fouling organisms affected by the applied vibration, and these organisms settled in significantly lower numbers when the plates were excited at specific frequencies and amplitudes. Panels vibrating at relatively higher frequencies, greater than 260 Hz, exhibited reduced barnacle settlement, whilst lower frequencies in the 70-100 Hz range had little or no effect. The settlement of other fouling organisms such as tubeworms, bryozoans, ascidians and algae did not appear to be affected by the applied excitation. The experimental results showed that increasing the velocity amplitude of vibration was a contributing factor in inhibiting barnacle settlement.

An assessment of the ship drag penalty arising from light calcareous tubeworm fouling

“…Preparation of coupon Watson et al [2014] and longer term fouling assemblages by Choi et al Choi et al [2013]. After the exposure period the coupon was photographed and then air dried for 7 days prior to storing at -18…”

Acoustic methods for biofouling control: A review

“…In subsequent trials, however, other researchers have not observed this antifouling efficiency at these low frequencies (Fischer et al, 1984;Choi et al, 2013). In sea trials, Choi et al (2013) investigated the effect of low frequency (70-445 Hz) vibration on biofouling. In contrast to Branscomb and Rittschof, no effect was observed, compared to a control, for frequencies below 200 Hz.…”

“…3. Transducers used have included piezoelectric transducers (Branscomb and Rittschof, 1984;Choi et al, 2013;Gavand et al, 2007;Kitamura et al, 1995;Seth et al, 2010Guo et al, 2011a,b, 2012Mazue et al, 2011) and strips/films (Latour and Murphy, 1981;Murphy and Latour, 1979;Wooden and Edelman, 1981), magnetostrictive transducers (Sheherbakov et al, 1974), and audio speakers (Piper, 1977).…”

“…Acoustic antifouling studies have been performed in the audible frequency range (Branscomb and Rittschof, 1984;Fischer et al, 1984;Choi et al, 2013;Latour and Murphy, 1981;Gavand et al, 2007;Donskoy and Ludyanskiy, 1995). Branscomb and Rittschof (1984) investigated the effects of low frequency (15-45 Hz) sound waves on barnacle settlement rates in laboratory studies.…”

Comparison of mixed Ultrasound waves with the extracts of Nerium oleander L. on the growth of cyprid barnacles Balanus amphitrite Amphitrite

“…This is a unique study of its kind, is considered as the use of ultrasound and the concentration of 2.5 mg / ml of the active compound (Oleandrin) and were compared between the two separately, and in other studies used different frequencies of ultrasound (70 to 445 Hz), the Water basins contain on the larvae. It was observed to increase the vibration amplitude and a decrease in the number of marine barnacles conjoined at the frequency of 260 Hertz (18) (19) . Table 2: Effect of mixed ultrasound and oleandrin extract on the growth of cyprid barnacles B.a.amphitrite (the total number of larvae = 12).…”