Stiffness Variation in Bearing Supports of Marine Propulsion Systems

In some ship engine room designs, the bearing supports of the propulsion system shaft are not aligned with the primary structure, such as side girders and floors, which compromises the structural stiffness of the supports and leads to vibration problems in the propulsion train. This research aims to analyze how varying the height and position of a bearing support impacts its stiffness and natural frequency. The study focuses on parametric analysis, evaluating the results in the three main directions of motion—longitudinal, transverse, and vertical—using finite element models. The graphs and data obtained in this research should serve as a reference for installing bearing supports and to prevent vibration problems by having a stiffness that can vary depending on the location of bearing supports between primary structures.