Eco-friendly bearing for tidal power generation

Abstract

An environmentally friendly and low-friction bearing for applications such as tidal power generation is proposed using biomimetic technologies. A biomimetic bearing was successfully developed using a hydrated material, polyvinyl formal (PVF), which mimics articular cartilage in a natural synovial joint. A non-Newtonian fluid, polyethylene glycol (PEG) dissolved in distilled water, was used as a lubricant, and the biomimetic bearing exhibited excellent frictional properties at start-up, at steady state, and at near zero velocity.