Composite shaft advantages:

  • Mass reduction compared to steel shafts of magnitude 2:1 to 5:1
  • High stiffness > leading to high critical shaft speed and reduces number of bearings
  • Maintenance free, corrosion resistant
  • Tunable and low torsional stiffness, low mass moment of inertia, accurate prediction of torsional stiffness
  • Low material damping factor
  • Low thermal expansion coefficient
  • Electric properties: Tunable from electric conductive (CFRP) to electric nonconductive (GFRP)

For each Composite shaft line VULKAN performs for the following analyses

  • Determination of the strength and stiffness properties of the individual laminate construction of each composite shaft by calculation.
  • Analysis of the composite shaft failure modes according to DNV-Standard “Type approval of composite shafts and flexible couplings, standard for certification, No. 2.9, type Approval Program No. 1-50. 16”.
  • Vibration analysis of the shaft system including respective parts of engine, gearbox and water jet by means of FEA (ANSYS).
  • Alignment analysis with prediction of bearing loads.
  • Hull deflection analysis.
  • If necessary, experimental verification is performed by the VULKAN test department which is perfectly equipped for all kinds of tests.