PTFE (Poly-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene) is a well-known bearing material used to provide low friction for water-lubricated shafts. Partial arc design bearings are attracting keen interest due to reduce friction, since it develops a hydrodynamic film even in water lubrication. However, the application of both PTFE material and a partial arc design is limited to small bearings, because conventional PTFE partial arc bearings are manufacture in ring form and PTFE rings have strict limitation in size. In this paper, a newly developed, PTFE partial arc bearing for large water-lubricated tail-shafts is outlined. Friction, wear and deformation properties of the new bearing are described. In addition, wear life prediction is proposed for the PTFE partial arc bearing.

Keywords:
calculation, partial arc design, water-lubricated tail-shaft bearing, partial arc bearing, aft end, bearing pressure, ptfe partial arc bearing, tail-shaft bearing, section area, new ptfe partial arc bearing
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Copyright 2012, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
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