Abstract: Based on the theory of modal strain energy method and structural dynamic optimization，several methods for improving the application effects of damping materials on ships were presented. Within the same weight of damping materials，the loss factor of damping structure with a certain percentage of holes was improved by compared with damping structure without holes. Then，two models of composite cantilever plates were established with regard to meet the limited loss factor. One was for the optimization design of the thickness，whereas the other was for topology optimization design of the distribution of damping materials. The target function is total weight of damping materials. Finally，the optimal thickness and distribution of damping materials in the first three modes of models were obtained. The results indicate that damping materials with holes can improve the effect of vibroacoustics reduction.