Investigation of Rubber Stern Tube and Strut Bearings for Contrarotating Service

摘要

The pitting failure mode observed in the study of a 15-inch water-lubricated contrarotating propeller shaft bearing has been duplicated to three smaller sized bearings. Water flow rates thru the bearings have been shown to be the critical parameter for control of this failure mode. The cyclic stress hypothesis previously advanced in explanation of this failure mode was not substantiated. Geometric and speed scaling factors for the elastic bearing are analyzed in some detail. (Author)