Journal materials for a water lubricated bearing

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 78, No. 883, 1985

J.C. THORNLEY and H.L.J. DRUMMOND, New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Fifty years of wear on the original carbon steel shaft of this hydro turbine necessitated repair operations in 1980. Both aus-tenitic and martensitic stainless steels have been used individually as journal materials in separate trials on an 80-inch long and 22-inch diameter radial bearing but neither one nor the other has been successful. The wear and cracking problems of the stainless steels leading to the present abandonment of both classes of stainless steel are described. In particular the dependence of the toughness of type 410 stainless steel on its tempering temperature and the susceptibility of that steel to quench cracking are highlighted because problems have been caused by both of these metallurgical factors.

Mots Clés: Materials engineering, Metallurgy, Stainless Steels, Austenitic steel, Martensitic steel, Bearings, Cracking, Welding, Fracturing.