Fatigue Assessment of Marine Propulsion Shafting Due to Cyclic Torsional and Bending Stresses

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2008 levels by at least 40% by 2030, prompting the widespread adoption of slow steaming and engine de-rating strategies. This study investigates the fatigue life of marine propulsion shafts under slow steaming conditions, focusing on the interplay between torsional and bending vibrations. A finite element (FE) model of a low-speed two-stroke propulsion system is developed, incorporating torsional and lateral excitation sources from both the engine and propeller. Vibrational stresses are computed for multiple operating conditions, and fatigue life is assessed using both the conventional Det Norske Veritas (DNV) methodology and a proposed biaxial stress approach. Results indicate that while torsional vibrations remain the primary fatigue driver, bending-induced stresses contribute marginally to the overall fatigue life. The proposed methodology refines high-cycle fatigue (HCF) assessment by incorporating a corrected S-N curve and equivalent von Mises stress criteria. Comparisons with classification society standards demonstrate that existing guidelines remain valid for most cases, though further studies on extreme alignment deviations and dynamic bending effects are recommended. This study enhances understanding of fatigue mechanisms in marine shafting and proposes a refined methodology for improved fatigue life prediction.