Unraveling the friction response from deformation behavior of piezoelectric damping composites

Under special operating conditions, such as the starting, stopping, and turning of marine engines, it is challenging to establish a stable water-lubricating film for water-lubricated bearings. Lubrication failure leads to severe friction-induced vibration behaviors, which threaten the reliability of bearings and the stealth capability of ships. In this study, a novel vibration dissipation mode via the mechanical–electrical–thermal energy conversion pathway was applied for the design of water-lubricated bearing materials. The piezoelectric damping composites (PDCs) with different deformation responses were fabricated. Under water-lubricated conditions, M3055 exhibited excellent tribological properties, including a low average coefficient of friction (COF) of approximately 0.22 and a low wear rate of 0.0066 mm³/(N·h). Furthermore, M3055 demonstrated excellent vibration–noise attenuation, with maximum vibration and noise amplitudes of 4.2 m/s² and 0.88 Pa, respectively. These results are attributed to the fact that M3055 provided suitable deformation resistance and optimal piezoelectric damping effect, enabling the successful conversion of mechanical energy (vibration) into Joule heat. The knowledge gained not only contributes to a better understanding of PDCs but also provides a theoretical reference for the development of novel anti-wear and vibration-attenuated water-lubricated bearing polymers.