Research on Friction Vibration of Marine Water Lubricated Rubber Bearing

Marine water-lubricated rubber bearing is used to support the stern shaft of surface vessels and underwater vehicles, whose friction vibration and noise directly influence the stealth, security of the vessels and both physical and psychological health of occupants. In order to investigate the this problem, the kinds of water-lubricated bearings with different rubber material were tested on the bearing testing machine, and friction coefficient, noise, vibration frequency and amplitude were measured under different working conditions. The results show that friction coefficient of water-lubricated rubber bearings are affected with the rubber material, operating speed, applied load and cooling water temperature, which results in the change of bearing vibration state. The component content of carbon black and self-lubricated materials can affect the deformation size, frictional performances and friction coefficients of bearings. The higher the speed, the smaller the friction coefficient, and friction vibration state is changed. With the increase of the specific pressure in some range, the contact pressure between tested bearing and shaft decreases due to the augment of the contact area so that the friction coefficient and vibration amplitude are changed. As cooling water temperature is enhanced, sometimes friction vibration declines, but the critical speed producing noise increases due to softened rubber.