Temperature-induced lubrication–deformation coupling mechanism in laminated water-lubricated bearings

This study addresses the challenges associated with friction-induced liquid film temperature rise and film thinning in shipborne water-lubricated bearings. A laminated bearing design is proposed in which an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene composite layer (UHMWPE) is inserted between the rubber liner and the metal backing. A coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical multiphysics framework is developed to quantify interactions among thermal, hydrodynamic, and structural responses. Systematic analyses are performed to evaluate the effects of key parameters, including eccentricity ratio, rotational speed, and rubber and UHMWPE layer thickness. The analysis focuses on water film pressure, load-carrying capacity, frictional power loss, and the deformation and stress fields within the liner structure. The results clarify the coupling mechanisms linking structural parameters, thermal effects, and thermally induced deformation. Under thermal loading, increasing eccentricity nonlinearly increases interfacial stress and modifies lubrication performance. Rotational speed primarily governs load-carrying capacity and frictional power dissipation and also increases the risk of cavitation and operational instability. These effects become more pronounced when rotational speed exceeds 1000 r/min and eccentricity ratio exceeds 0.8. Furthermore, thermophysical mismatch between rubber and UHMWPE delays interlayer heat transfer and promotes progressive accumulation of through thickness temperature gradients, which redistributes the stress field and reconfigures the water film pressure. This process establishes a detrimental negative feedback loop that further degrades lubrication conditions and accelerates performance degradation. Overall, these findings provide a robust theoretical basis for the design and optimization of multilayer water-lubricated bearings.