Water-Lubricated Sintered Bronze Journal Bearings-Theoretical and Experimental Research

Water-lubricated bearings have been used for many years in shipbuilding, hydropower, and other industries because of their advantages, including extensive serviceable life, low coefficient of friction, longevity of shaft sleeve, good abrasion resistance, low maintenance required, unit simplicity, no danger of pollution, and low price. Various types of water-lubricated sliding bearings have been tested at the Technical University of Gdansk, including stiff composite bearings, ceramic bearings, as well as elastic polymer ones. It was unequivocally determined that a properly designed hydrodynamic water-lubricated journal bearing may function under a hydrodynamic regime in the conditions of typical loads and speeds found in practical applications. In this article, the authors present an attempt at researching the possibility of more extensive use of other stiff bush bearings, represented by bronze bush bearings. The aim of the research was to investigate stiff metal bearings, as solutions offering theoretically greater load bearing capacity than comparable elastic bearings, capable of replacing typical polymer and rubber bearings in certain applications. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that bronze bearings may constitute an interesting alternative to nonmetallic bearings. Although they require a hardened journal surface, they offer a greater load-bearing capacity, durability, and lower movement resistance levels. These bearings are particularly advantageous when used with journals of relatively small diameters working under heavy loads.