Modelling and Simulation Testing of Main Bearing Loads and Strains in Crankshafts Caused by Deviations in the Position of the Shaft Journal and Bearing Axes

This article presents the results of a simulation, testing the variation of main bearing loads and strains in crankshafts caused by geometrical deviations of the bearing system to justify the necessity and purposefulness of measurements of both the shape and axes position deviations of crankshaft journals. Measurements of these deviations at the existing level of applied measuring techniques are significantly limited. The research also accentuates the practical implementation of a measuring system equipped with the so-called flexible support system for the measured object, developed at the Maritime University of Szczecin. This system makes it possible to eliminate elastic deformations of the crankshaft due to its own weight, whereby the measurements of geometrical deformations of the crankshafts can be carried out with appropriate accuracy in conditions corresponding to the non-reference measurements when determining the object measured in counterpoints. The obtained results have fully confirmed the purposefulness of the conducted research and the validity of the theses.