Bachelor/Master Thesis: Bearing temperature simulation for propeller-ice collisions of ships.

The Institute of Machine Elements and System Engineering researches the fundamental structural and tribological behavior of machine elements and represents them in experimentally validated model descriptions. These model descriptions are used to analyse and design the functional, loss and noise behavior of entire technical systems with a focus on drive technology. The developed models are also used to research and develop methods of Model Based Systems Engineering as a central element of future inductive product development processes.

There a new shipping routes opening up in the polar regions. This leads to an increasing number of collisions between ship propellers and sea ice which results in high loads on the propeller. The influence of these loads on the propeller-shaft bearings is widely unknown. A common bearing damage is related to melting of the material.

This work therefore focuses on the determination of the temperature in the bearings using thermal modeling to answer the question: Do propeller-ice collisions cause bearing damages in ships?

Tasks:

• Literature review of temperature modelling for bearings
• Design of thermal model in Abaqus/AVL Excite power Unit of the propeller shaft bearing
• Determination of resulting temperature in the bearing for given Propeller-ice loads.
• Evaluation of propeller-ice loads regarding bearing damage

Requirements:

• Independence and reliability
• Interested in simulative work
• First experiences with simulation software beneficial

We offer:

• Intensive support & mentoring
• Flexible work focus
• Co-authorship in research publication
• Immediate start or by arrangement
• Pleasant working atmosphere
• Preparation of written Thesis in either English or German

We look forward to your application by email:

Markus Gilges, M. Sc. RWTH
Institute for Machine Elements and Systems Engineering

Schinkelstraße 10, 52062 Aachen
markus.gilges@imse.rwth-aachen.de