Investigation of Stern Plain Bearings for Contra-Rotating Propeller System. (4th Report. Design of Stern Bearings for Large Ships and Application to a Very Large Crude Oil Carrier).

Abstract

A hydrostatic bearing with pressurized oil supplied through an inner shaft was applied as a stern bearing of a 258 000 DWT tanker equipped with a contra-rotating propeller system. This paper presents the design method of this stern bearing and measurement results of oil film thickness, inner shaft center locus, inclination angle of inner shaft and temperature of the stern bearing during sea trial. It is confirmed that the stern bearing operates under full film lubrication in various operation mode, including high-speed straight run, high-speed turn, blackout and emergency sailing, and that estimated results of bearing performance, taking account of propeller forces, are in good agreement with measured ones.