On the lubrication of mechanical seals with rough surfaces: A parametric study

Abstract

Mechanical seals must operate with a fluid film between their faces to avoid wear. This film must be thin enough to prevent excessive leakage. Consequently, mechanical seals work near the transition from mixed to hydrodynamic lubrication regimes where roughness is a key factor. When nominally flat parallel rough surfaces are considered, the usual stochastic approaches are not able to produce the hydrodynamic lift observed experimentally that leads to face separation. This article presents a numerical deterministic study of mechanical seals operating in mixed lubrication. The effect of surface roughness on surface separation, as well as on the friction coefficient, is analysed through a parametric study.

Keywords

Mechanical face seals mixed lubrication hydrodynamic lubrication surface roughness deterministic simulation

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