Abstract
A previous paper demonstrated that high pressure face seals have an inherent stiffness due to elastic distortions. At that time a simplified treatment of the elastic and thermal problems was presented and agreement between this theory and experimental results was found to be reasonable. Because of the predominant effect of the elastic distortions and their importance in determining the stability of a seal, the authors of this paper have determined a more accurate method of solution of the elastic problem.
The results of this theory give closer agreement with the published results obtained experimentally, and demonstrate that the simplified treatment is valid only if the seal has a large face to thickness ratio. Solutions for square-section seals are presented in non-dimensional form, leakage and parting force due to fluid pressure being expressed as ratios of the rigid values. Although only one sealing arrangement is treated the elastic solution can be applied to any body symmetrical about an axis.
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