SECTION

Propulsion Shaft Alignment

Introduction

The propulsion shafting alignment is a process which consists of two parts,

The design and analysis
The alignment procedure and measurements
The definition of the shaft alignment process and the practices in performing the alignment
are not consistent in the industry. The terminology and requirements for the shaft alignment
will vary depending on the machinery application, the propulsion systems size, as well as on
the perception of the alignment process itself.
Propulsion shafting is a system of revolving rods that transmit power and motion from the
main drive to the propeller. The shafting is supported by an appropriate number of bearings.
Propulsion shaft alignment is a static condition observed at the bearings supporting the
propulsion shafts. In order for the propulsion shafting alignment to be properly defined, the
following minimum set of parameters (whichever may be applicable) need to be confirmed as
acceptable:
Bearing vertical offset
Bearing reactions
Misalignment angles
Crankshafts web deflections
Gear misalignment
Shaft and bearings strength
Coupling bolts strength.
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The Alignment Problem

As the vessels cargo capacity, and consequently, the installed power of the main drive

increase, the propulsion shafting alignments are increasingly more sensitive to disturbances
affecting vertical offset of the bearings. These disturbances primarily result from hull
deflections and temperature change. However, another very significant influence on the
quality of the alignment is the accuracy of the shaft alignment analyses and the alignment
procedure itself.
The shaft alignment problem can be summarized as follows:
High sensitivity of the shaft alignment to small disturbances in the bearing vertical position
Disparity between highly flexible hull girder structure and the rigid propulsion shafting
Difficulties in hull girder deflection evaluation
Problems in maintaining the desired accuracy of the shaft alignment analysis
Inconsistency and inaccuracies in conducting the alignment procedure.

2.1

Solution to Alignment Problem

The preferable condition for performing the propulsion shafting alignment procedure
would be in the dry dock, just before the vessel is launched. At that stage, the vessels
structural work is nearly complete. Thus, a minimum disturbance on the alignment resulting
from the construction work after the launching may be expected.
However, to comfortably rely on dry dock alignment, the hull deflections need to be
predicted with relatively high confidence. Prediction of hull deflections would enable the
design of a dry dock alignment robust enough to prevent other than hull deflection
disturbances from adversely affecting the alignment.

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Modern Vessel Design

The propulsion system of a modern merchant vessel commonly consists of a diesel

engine driving a propeller through directly-coupled2 shafting. As mentioned, such a design
results in an increased disparity in flexibilities between the hull girder structure and the
shafting. Namely:
As the demand for power rises with the increase in the vessels size and with scantling
optimization, the vessels hull becomes more flexible.
The shafting diameters become larger and the shafts stiffer.
Consequently, the alignment of the propulsion system becomes increasingly sensitive to
small deviations in bearing offsets resulting in difficulties in analyzing the alignment and
conducting the alignment procedure.

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SECTION

Shaft Alignment Procedures

General

As already mentioned, the propulsion shafting alignment process consists of the design,
analysis, and the alignment procedure and measurements. The alignment procedure is the
executable part of the alignment process where the alignment is performed in accordance
with the requirements defined by the alignment designer. The alignment procedure is not
uniformly defined and applied in the industry. The procedure often depends on shipbuilders
practices, experiences, and even more so on the production schedule of the particular builder.

Shaft Alignment Procedure

The shaft alignment procedure is not expected to start before the vessel stern blocks are
fully welded and all of the heavy stern structure is in place. Only then should the reference
line for positioning the shafts, bearings, main engine and gear box be established. This is not
always the case, however. Some yards do start the procedure much earlier, even during block
stage, or without a fully welded stern area of the vessel, or/and with no superstructure in
place. These different practices will be addressed later in the text and discuss possible
consequences which such approaches in alignment procedure may yield, along with solutions
to the possible problems.
The propulsion shafting alignment procedure can be summarized in the following
activities:
Sighting through (bore sighting)
Bearing slope boring or bearing inclination
Engine bedplate pre sagging
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 Sag and Gap

Reactions measurements
Bearing-shaft misalignment evaluation
Shaft eccentricity (run out) verification
Intermediate shaft bearing offset readjustment.
The alignment verification is also part of the alignment procedure to which a separate
Section It consists of
Crankshaft deflection measurements
Engine bedplate deflections measurement
Gear contact evaluation (where applicable)
Gear-shaft bearings reaction measurements.

Sighting Through (Bore sighting)

The process of establishing the reference line is often called sighting through or bore
sighting. The procedure is conducted by optical instruments, laser or a piano wire.

FIGURE 1

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Example of Optical/Laser Sighting Through

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