Bioinspired self-sensing materials: from comprehensive advances to outlook on self-monitoring water-lubricated bearings

Abstract

Water-lubricated bearings are critical components of marine propulsion systems, and their online condition monitoring and fault diagnosis have long presented challenges in engineering practice. The installation and wiring of traditional sensors is complex, and the monitoring is constrained by the material properties and structure of the monitored object. Bioinspired self-sensing materials, which can respond to external stimuli in real time and convert signals, offer a promising new direction for intelligent monitoring of water-lubricated bearings. This paper discusses the signal transduction mechanisms found in nature and explores multi-scale sensing structures, with particular emphasis on recent advancements in temperature, force, and damage sensing materials. Furthermore, the potential applications and challenges of these technologies in water-lubricated bearings are explored. Research into self-sensing materials and bioinspired design not only accelerates the development of in situ monitoring technologies, but also holds substantial theoretical and practical value, contributing to the intelligent and sustainable advancement of marine propulsion systems.