Simulation of the Effects of a Plunge Ground Rod on Hydraulic Rod Seal Behavior

A numerical analysis of a reciprocating hydraulic rod seal with a plunge ground rod has been performed. It consists of coupled fluid mechanics, contact mechanics, and deformation analyses. The fluid mechanics analysis consists of a finite volume solution of the Reynolds equation. The deformation is computed with a finite element analysis. The contact of the seal asperities with the rod utilizes the Greenwood-Williamson model and the rod surface geometry is treated deterministically. The fluid transport, friction force, contact pressure distribution, and fluid pressure distribution in the sealing zone have been computed for a polyurethane U-cup seal and for a step seal with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing element and a nitrile energizer. These have been compared with the results for a smooth rod.     

A Transient Mixed Lubrication Model of a Rotary Lip Seal with a Rough Shaft

A rotary lip seal, widely used in machines containing rotating shafts, is usually protected from mechanical and thermal damage by a thin film of lubricant under the lip, separating the lip and the shaft surfaces. However, under some transient conditions such as those during startup and shutdown, the fluid film is not fully established or it breaks down, and the seal operates in the mixed lubrication regime. To simulate such cases, a transient mixed lubrication analysis has been developed. It generates predictions of such seal operating characteristics as load support sharing between hydrodynamic and contact pressure, contact and cavitation area ratio, the reverse pumping rate, and the average film thickness. In most previous numerical simulations of the rotary lip seal, the shaft surface is modeled as perfectly smooth. In the present study, a more realistic shaft surface with asperities is used, and the effect of the shaft surface roughness on the behavior of the seal is investigated.     

Elastohydrodynamic Analysis of a Rotary Lip Seal Using Flow Factors

An elastohydrodynamic analysis of a rotary lip seal is performed numerically, incorporating both the fluid mechanics of the lubricating film and the elastic deformation of the lip. Asperities on the lip surface dominate the behavior of the flow field in the lubricating film and are taken into account through the use of flow factors. Because previous analyses treated those asperities deterministically, they required very large computation times. The present approach is much less computationally intensive because the asperities are treated statistically. Because cavitation and asperity orientation play important roles, these are taken into account in the computation of the flow factors. An asperity distortion analysis is introduced to model the complex variations in the asperity distribution on the surface of the lip. Results of the analysis show how the operating parameters of the seal and the characteristics of the asperities affect such seal characteristics as the thickness of the lubricating film, reverse pumping rate, power dissipation, and liftoff speed.     

On the Normal Stress Effect in Grease-Lubricated Bearing Seals

The film formation in lip seals, due to the non-Newtonian rheology of the lubricant, has been a topic of speculation. Earlier work suggests that normal stresses in grease would be favorable for the film buildup between the seal lip and shaft or bearing ring. In the current article, we evaluate this earlier work and our earlier theoretical seal lip model with a series of experiments. We use a modified concentric cylinder geometry and a model fluid to study the fluid pressure distribution in the seal-type geometry. The results are then related to grease-lubricated seals and our earlier theoretical predictions. The present analysis shows that this earlier work and our earlier predictions are not correct and indicate that normal stresses in the grease pull the seal lip toward the shaft, increasing the contact pressure. However, normal stresses also ensure the presence of grease on the shaft or bearing inner ring, which enhances replenishment of the sealing contact.     

A mixed lubrication model of a rotary lip seal using flow factors

A mixed lubrication model of a rotary lip seal using flow factors has been developed. The model consists of coupled fluid mechanics, contact mechanics and deformation mechanics analyses. The fluid mechanics analysis is described by a Reynolds equation that takes into account the surface roughness effect using flow factors. The contact mechanics analysis uses the Greenwood and Williamson model to compute contact pressure. The deformation mechanics analysis utilizes the influence coefficient approach to compute deformation of the seal. Results for a typical seal show how the operation parameters and the surface roughness affect seal behavior.     

多唇往复滑环式组合密封数值模拟与分析

构建一种适用于多唇往复滑环式组合密封的数值模型,数值模型中包含固体力学分析、流体力学分析、接触力学分析、流固耦合分析。以含有3段密封唇的PS封为例,基于数值模型求解得到密封面油膜厚度分布、油膜压力分布、粗糙峰接触压力分布,以及内外行程的流量和密封界面的摩擦力。该数值计算方法解决了多唇密封中边界条件难确定的问题,通过迭代计算可得到稳态运行时各密封唇的边界条件。明确多唇PS封的密封机制,分析不同往复速度对密封性能的影响。结果表明：多唇PS封内外行程中各唇边界条件差异较大,外行程中,两唇之间的空隙处存在一定压力,内行程中空隙压力为0;外行程的密封面接触压力要小于内行程;增大往复速度会使多唇PS封净泄漏增加,摩擦力减小。     

双唇Y形拉杆密封的密封性能研究*

建立双唇Y形拉杆封的混合润滑模型,并进行流体力学、接触力学、变形力学分析。利用MatLab软件实现对模型的求解,得到密封区域的流量、膜厚和接触压力分布,并分析不同密封件粗糙度对轴向往复双唇Y形密封圈的摩擦力矩、泄漏量的影响。结果表明:在双唇Y形往复密封中,两唇在密封过程中均处于混合润滑状态,且第一内唇处的膜厚大于第二内唇处;第二内唇静态接触压力近似于对称分布,且第二内唇最大接触压力大于第一内唇最大接触压力,表明第二内唇作为密封的第二道防线可以保证良好的密封效果;密封件粗糙度是影响矩形密封性能的重要因素,随表面粗糙度的增加,直线往复密封的摩擦力和泄漏量增大,存在一个临界粗糙度使泄漏方向改变。     

Design methodology for an air-lubricated seal

A methodology to design an air-lubricated piston seal for pneumatic actuators is described. Such a seal permits a small air leakage through a very narrow gap between the seal lip and the counterpart; this air film both avoids contact and ensures lubrication at the seal-counterpart interface thus permitting reduced friction and wear. Subsequently the use of grease could be limited or avoided. A seal geometry equipped with a self-pressurized balancing chamber was designed to make leakage as insensitive as possible to the supply pressure and to the barrel machining tolerances. A prototype was manufactured and tests were carried out.     

径向金属密封唇部结构接触力学研究*

由于初始过盈量和介质压力的作用,井下流量控制阀径向金属密封唇部的应力和应变梯度变化很大,很容易发生塑性变形。为研究径向金属密封唇部接触力学行为,提出径向金属密封唇部的圆弧结构,基于接触力学建立径向金属密封唇部轴对称结构的圆弧-平面接触模型,得出径向金属密封唇部结构接触力学参数的理论关系式,并基于有限元方法进行验证。径向金属密封唇部接触力学参数的理论解与数值解相符,接触宽度、最大接触应力、初始过盈量和平均接触应力的平均相对误差分别为8.86%、6.96%、8.88%和4.33%,满足工程设计要求。研究表明：径向金属密封唇部的最大接触应力与初始过盈量、径向金属密封唇部径向厚度和轴向厚度成正比,与径向金属密封唇部圆弧半径成反比,因此可通过增加初始过盈量、径向金属密封唇部径向厚度和轴向厚度来增加径向金属密封唇部的最大接触应力。研究结果为井下流量控制阀径向金属密封的设计提供了理论指导。     

Transient EHL analysis of an elastomeric hydraulic seal

Recent steady-state numerical analyses of reciprocating hydraulic rod seals have revealed many important details about the operation of such seals, including the fact that they generally operate with mixed lubrication in the sealing interface. However, these seals frequently operate under transient conditions, with the rod speed and sealed pressure undergoing cyclic variations with time. In the present study, a transient numerical model has been developed to take account of the varying rod speed. The model consists of a fluid mechanics analysis of the lubricating film of hydraulic fluid, a contact mechanics analysis of the contacting asperities on the seal lip and a structural analysis of the seal deformations. The fluid mechanics analysis consists of a finite volume solution of the Reynolds equation using a mass-conserving algorithm, which accounts for possible cavitation. The contact mechanics analysis utilizes the Greenwood–Williamson model. The structural analysis consists of a finite element analysis. Typical results are presented for an injection molding application. Of greatest importance is the net leakage per cycle. Also presented are the cyclic histories of such performance characteristics as the lubricating film thickness, contact pressure and fluid pressure distributions, the friction force on the rod and the instantaneous flow rate.     

基于流固热多场耦合的高速旋转唇形密封性能研究

针对一种橡胶材料高速旋转唇形密封,结合其自身结构及应用工况,通过方程离散化计算等方法,建立定量分析密封系统密封性能的数值仿真模型。基于所建立的模型对密封实际服役状态下界面流体力学、宏观固体力学、表面粗糙峰微观接触力学、唇口摩擦生热等多物理过程之间的耦合关系进行分析,借助实验验证并完善数值仿真模型的准确性。通过所建立的数值仿真分析模型研究油封唇口接触压力分布、唇口温度、摩擦力矩及泄漏率等衡量密封性能的关键参数随转速的变化规律。结果表明：在高转速条件下考虑摩擦生热时油封径向力减小,接触宽度增加,摩擦力矩减小,说明摩擦热对油封密封性能产生较大影响。     

表面纹理对旋转轴唇形密封性能的影响

在唇形密封圈唇端两侧设置整齐排列的圆形、正方形和等边三角形3种凹坑纹理形式,建立具有表面纹理的旋转轴唇形密封圈的有限元模型,并分析获得密封面静态接触压力和变形系数矩阵;建立综合考虑混合润滑和空化及表面纹理形状影响、耦合流体场和弹性变形场的唇形密封圈接触区域密封数值计算模型,并建立集有限元分析与数值计算于一体的唇形密封圈接触区域泵吸率计算流程。计算结果表明:表面纹理结构使得密封唇与轴的接触压力相对下降,且有效地增大唇形密封圈的膜厚并改善泵吸效果;相较于圆形和正方形纹理,三角形纹理对唇形密封圈的改善效果最佳。但表面纹理结构在改善密封区域润滑状态的同时,也造成密封动态压力的波动,且三角形纹理的影响更显著。     

An unsteady mixed soft EHL model, with application to a rotary lip seal

A rotary lip seal usually operates with full-film lubrication. However at low speeds, such as those encountered during startup and shutdown, mixed lubrication occurs and asperities on the lip contact the shaft. To simulate this condition, a mixed soft EHL model has been constructed. The fluid mechanics of the lubricating film is described by a Reynolds equation that can handle interasperity cavitation. The bulk deformation of the lip is computed using influence coefficients, while the junctions between the asperities and the shaft are modeled as Hertzian contacts. Since the shaft is rough, the flow is unsteady and an unsteady analysis is required. The model shows how the shaft roughness affects such seal characteristics as load support, contact load ratio, contact area ratio, cavitation area ratio, reverse pumping rate and average film thickness.     

A Mixed Thermoelastohydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis of Mechanical Face Seals by a Multiscale Approach

This article presents an improvement to a previous multiscale approach used to model the mixed lubrication regime in a mechanical face seal. The physical mechanisms considered by the improved model are the surface roughness effects on the fluid film lubrication, the thermal deformations, and the heat transfer in the seal rings due to viscous and dry friction. The developed numerical model determines the pressure distribution by taking into account the effect of cavitation and contact asperity between the surfaces. Heat dissipation, heat transfer, and deformations are computed from the heat dissipated at the seal interface by a finite element technique. The multiscale model significantly reduces computation time while maintaining the accuracy of the results. The results obtained through a parametric study show that there are different operating zones where the lubricating film thickness is controlled by the roughness height or by the thermal effect.     

The contact forces of lip seals for a ball bearing

Simplified equations are derived for the evaluation of the axial contact forces for a special design of lip seal for bearings. The contact forces of the lip seals for a ball bearing are analysed as a function of the ratio of real contact length, the thickness of the seal lip, the inclined angle of the seal lip, and the deflected interference between the edge of the seal lip and the rotating inner ring. An experimental apparatus is developed for testing the seal lip contact forces. Using a non-linear FEM program, the contact force of the seal lip was analysed for various values of the deflected interference. The calculated results show that the deflected interference and the circumferential stress cause considerable change of contact forces for the low sealed lubricant pressure. The results of contact forces obtained from the derived equation for the contact force are in good agreement with experimental and numerical results.     

PTFE唇形密封结构优化方法研究

基于参数化建模和神经网络技术提出一种PTFE双唇形油封结构的优化方法。以密封唇唇厚及唇尖坐标作为设计变量,建立双唇形油封的参数化模型,通过拉丁超立方抽样与有限元方法开展试验设计,引入神经网络拟合代理模型近似代替目标函数,综合分析各设计变量对接触压力、径向力及等效应力的影响;以接触压力最大,等效应力和径向力最小为优化目标,采用优化算法在设计空间内寻优,建立双唇形密封结构优化设计的数学模型。结果表明：优化后的唇封结构最大接触压力增大了6.3%,且接触压力分布更符合良好密封的要求;密封唇最大等效应力和最大径向力均有明显减小,提高了油封的可靠性。唇形油封性能的改善证实了优化方法的有效性。     

Thermohydrodynamic Performance of a Plain Journal Bearing

The brush seal, with superior leakage performance, is emerging as a new sealing technology to effectively control cooling and leakage flows in gas turbine engines. Because the bristles slide against the rotor surface, wear at the contact becomes a major concern as it determines the life and efficiency of the seal. To optimize seal life and efficiency, an in-depth study of the factors causing the seal stiffness is needed, and a good choice of materials must be made. This work investigates some of the past research on brush seal wear. Although considerable research has been done on material selection and tribopairs, the brief survey reveals the lack of reliable analyses to evaluate contact loads and to address heat transfer issues. The complicated nature of bristle behavior under various combinations of pressure load and rotor interference requires computer analysis to study the details that may not be available through analytical formulations. In an effort to meet this need, the present work includes a preliminary computational model of a brush seal. The model consists of a 3-D finite element model of a representative brush seal segment with a mating rotor surface. Preliminary results from the model show reasonable agreement with actual seal behavior.     

Fluid leakage in seals: An approach based on percolation theory

We use the formalism developed by Persson et al. [Contact area between a viscoelastic solid and a hard, randomly rough, substrate. J Chem Phys 2004;120(18):8779-93], which we briefly review for the reader convenience, to calculate the fluid leakages in seals. The methodology makes use of the percolation theory and theory of contact mechanics to show how the statistical properties of the surface, the applied load and the geometry of the seal affect the leakages in such systems. The problem is relevant in a countless number of applications, e.g. in ball valves, or common rail systems. The basic idea is to describe the nominal contact area as a square lattice where each square can be black or white depending on whether contact between the two surfaces takes place or not. The probability to find a black site is then equal to the ratio between the apparent contact area at a given magnification and the nominal contact area. Since the apparent contact area decreases as the magnification is increased, a critical value of the magnification exists at which the probability to find a white square reaches the critical value given by the percolation theory. When this happens, a percolation channel is formed and fluid leakage occurs.     

Elastohydrodynamics of the rotary lip seal

An elastohydrodynamic model of the non-leaking equilibrium behaviour of the rotary lip seal has been developed. It consists of a fluid mechanics analysis of the lubricating film, a structural analysis of the lip, an analysis of the meniscus on the air side of the seal, and an iterative computation procedure. A uniform distribution of microasperities on the lip surface is assumed. The model predicts the location of the meniscus, the film thickness and pressure distributions, and the locations of cavitation regions. It also predicts the maximum pressure that can be sealed with zero leakage, and the maximum speed above which the meniscus is ingested into the sealing zone.     

双唇型油封的密封性能及其结构优化

利用有限元分析软件模拟分析双唇油封主唇区域的静态接触压力分布,并与单唇油封的静态接触压力进行比较;同时分析双唇油封安装后副唇的位移和变形。结果表明:油封的腰部结构不同导致双唇油封主唇区域密封效果低于单唇油封;副唇的位移和变形导致在实际运行中副唇与旋转轴存在空隙,影响防尘效果。为改善双唇油封的性能,提出采用渐进式腰部结构代替原弓形腰部结构和采用较长的防尘唇的双唇型油封结构优化方案。结果表明:采用渐进式腰部结构的双唇油封的主唇口接触压力曲线更接近单唇油封,密封效果优于普通双唇油封;采用较长的防尘唇,且安装时使防尘唇与旋转轴之间具有一定的过盈量,可以使防尘唇在油封装配变形后仍保持与旋转轴接触,减少了防尘唇唇尖与旋转轴之间的空隙,能够有效地提升防尘效果。