Application of the Optimization Methods to the Search of Marine Propulsion Shafting Global Equilibrium in Running Condition

Full-film hydrodynamic lubrication of marine propulsion shafting journal bearings in running condition is discussed. Considerable computational difficulties in non-linear determining the quasi-static equilibrium of the shafting are highlighted. To overcome this problem the approach using two optimization methods (the particle swarm method and the interior point method) in combination with the specially developed relaxation technique is proposed. The developed algorithm allows to calculate marine propulsion shafting bending with taking into account lubrication in all journal bearings and exact form of journal inside bearings, compared to results of most of the publications which consider lubrication only in the aft most stern tube bearing and assume rest of bearings to be represented by points. The calculation results of typical shafting design with four bearings are provided. The significance of taking into account lubrication in all bearings is shown, specifically more exact values of bearings’ reactions, shafting deflections, minimum film thickness and maximum hydrodynamic pressure in the stern tube bearing in case of considering lubrication in all bearings.