BEARING AND SEAL MATERIALS FOR STERN TUBE APPLICATIONS - ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART

The report presents the results of a literature survey on the basis of which an assessment of the state-of-the-art in stern tube bearing and seal materials was performed. The results indicate a need for better seal materials and more effective seal designs if the reliability of stern tube seals in large commercial vessels is to be improved. In the area of bearings, the material problem appears to be less critical. Tin based babbitts and some commercially available plastic materials appear to be yielding reasonably good performance under normal conditions of operation. The problem becomes more acute at jacking and reverse shaft speeds as well as on ships of new design where hull and rotor deflections are alone, or in combination with dynamic loading, forcing the bearings to operate under conditions where the load capacity is marginal. This combination results in excessive bearing wear.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Mechanical Technology, Incorporated

    968 Albany-Shaker Road
    Latham, NY  United States  12110

    Maritime Administration

    Office of Commercial Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Murray, S F
    • Smith, W V
  • Publication Date: 1977-5-10

Media Info

  • Pagination: 78 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00168854
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
  • Report/Paper Numbers: MA-RD-920-77090 Intrm Rpt., MTI-77TR36
  • Contract Numbers: MA-6-38054
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Dec 27 1978 12:00AM