Water-lubricated bearings with polymer bushes are steadily gaining popularity due to their advantages, including environmental friendliness, relatively simple construction and long-term operation. Nevertheless, in practice instances of damage to such bearings occur due to insufficient or absent flow of the lubricating agent. In this study, experimental tests established that elastic polymer bush bearing is capable of operating...

This paper presents typical methods for conducting experimental tests on main shaft slide bearings. There are described their possible testing capabilities, advantages, drawbacks and limitations. Various testing methods were analyzed to find a solution able of providing a wide range of possible investigations at possibly acceptable limitations.

Water lubricated polymer bushes find increasingly popular use in the sliding bearings of marine propellers, water turbines and pump shafts. Such popularity is partly due to their simple construction which also means relatively affordable price. In addition, properly designed and installed water lubricated bearings may well last for over a decade. However, in practical experience one may also observe cases of rapid wear...