Analysis of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Squeeze Film in O-Ring Assembly Under the Oscillating Motion

Abstract

In the most of the non-contacting face seals, squeezing occurs in the fluid film between the O-ring surface and the mating surfaces in the gland assembly. Therefore, hydrodynamic characteristics are easily simulated by considering a fluid film between a rubber surface (O-ring surface) and a rigid surface (machined surface). In this paper, effects of surface roughness of rubber block on leakage flow rate and hydrodynamic force developed in fluid film between a cylindrical rigid surface and a cylindrical rubber surface are analyzed. The modified Reynolds equation, Laplace equation and governing equation for three parameter viscoelastic model are solved simultaneously to obtain pressure developed in fluid film between the mating surfaces as well as in the porous matrix and viscoelastic deformation of rubber surface. It is seen that with increasing standard deviation and center line average (CLA) of surface height of rubber block, load carrying capacity increases significantly developing huge hydrodynamic force in the fluid film. Leakage flow rate also decreases slightly with increasing standard deviation and CLA of surface height of rubber block. Spatial distribution of the surface of rubber block has no effect on leakage flow rate as well as hydrodynamic force developing in the fluid film during squeezing motion. The results obtained from the present model are compared with experimental results available in the literature and a very good agreement is found.