Optimum design of aramid-phenolic/glassphenolic composite journal bearings

White or babbit bearing materials for the journal bearing liner have seizure problem during the start and stop periods of journals or when the applied pressure on the bearing is severe, while composite materials can eliminate the seizure problem between the journal and the bearing. So, the composite journal bearings are increasingly employed in large journal bearings for marine application. Asbestos-phenolic had been used for the materials of the composite bearings because of the outstanding performance per price, although the health hazard of this material is recently a great concern. Recently aramid/glass reinforced phenolic composite journal bearings have been employed rather than the asbestos-phenolic composite bearings for the large marine bearing. However, the failures of aramid/glass reinforced phenolic composite journal bearings have occurred. In this work, the mechanical properties of aramid/glass reinforced phenolic composite were measured for the stress analysis of the journal bearing with finite element method. The failure modes of the aramid/glass reinforced phenolic composite journal bearings were observed from the failed bearings. The modified dimensions of aramid/glass reinforced phenolic composite journal bearings and optimum interference fit amount were suggested using the FE-analysis results.