Experimental research on marine oil-lubricated stern tube bearing

Abstract

Bearings of propeller shafts are very crucial elements of the propulsion system of each of the ships. The safety of shipping depends on their durability and reliability. The new legal restrictions mean that today we are looking for environmentally friendly solutions. That is why water-lubricated bearings are becoming more and more popular. So, will oil-lubricated shaft bearings belong to the past? The bearing with a white metal bushing lubricated with mineral oil, which was subjected to experimental tests, has a number of advantages. First of all, it works in the area of full fluid friction, and in typical shipbuilding conditions it has a significant excess of hydrodynamic load capacity. Therefore, replacing mineral oil with an environmentally friendly lubricant with a similar viscosity seems to be a promising solution. Motion resistance larger than that in water-lubricated bearings compensates for the reliability and durability of this solution.