military vehicle engine bay insulation

Engine bay insulation for military vehicles keeps noise and heat in the engine bay from reaching the passenger compartment. The diesel engines that power military land systems run loud and hot, raising concerns about solider health and safety. Warfighters need to be able to hear each other above engine sounds, and a vehicle where the air conditioning runs full-blast is less fuel-efficient. Hotter vehicles also have stronger heat signatures, making them more susceptible to thermal detection by hostile forces.

Thermal-acoustic insulation is important, but manufacturers of military vehicles also need to protect on-board electronics and instruments from sound-induced vibrations. Otherwise, these noise disturbances can shorten equipment life through component failure. Resistance to flash and fire supports the mission, too. Engine bay insulation must also resist oil and automotive chemicals, withstand washdowns with water and detergents, and support cost-effective fabrication. (more…)