Relevance of drive shaft application made from composite materials in shipping machine-propulation complexes

The application of polymer-composite materials in the manufacture of hull structures experiencing static loads is considered. The advantages and disadvantages of drive shafts made of polymer composite materials are investigated. Examples of vessels whose construction includes polymer-composite materials are given. The finite element method is noted and modeling software products currently used for the development, design and analysis of composite materials are presented. The most common types of reinforcing fibers that increase the strength characteristics of composites are considered, the appearance of fiberglass, carbon fiber (carbon fiber) and aramid fiber is illustrated. The role of fillers for improving thermal conductivity, reducing density and increasing stiffness of the composite is noted. The features of designing and calculating the parameters of drive shafts made of polymer composite materials are listed. An example of calculating the parameters of a composite shaft in the ANSYS program is given. The technology of filament winding for the manufacture of polymer composite shafts, used by leading manufacturers in the field of composite shaft manufacturing, is being considered. A diagram of the manufacturing process of a composite polymer shaft by the method of filament winding is given. Two types of winding machines are described – spiral and polar. The rules and requirements of classification societies (the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and the Russian Classification Society) in the field of manufacturing vessels from composite materials and their use on ships are analyzed in detail. The analysis of the technology and the possibility of manufacturing experimental samples of shafts made of composite materials is carried out in the laboratory of the Marine Technology Service Testing Center of Astrakhan State Technical University.