Modeling Issues Associated With a Lip Seal Operating on a Textured Shaft

This paper discusses issues related with constructing a numerical model that will be used to predict the performance of a radial lip seal with surface texture on the shaft. 2-D Reynolds equation with JFO cavitation condition is solved to obtain the hydrodynamic fluid pressure of the lubricant. Finite element method is used to calculate the solid deformation. Different material properties like linear elasticity, hyperelasticity are suggested. The mutual influence between the fluid pressure and the solid deformation is also considered. Fluid pressure is relaxed due to the deformation of the lip seal. Different factors both in physics and numerical aspects that may influence the accuracy of the simulation are discussed. A simulation case is conducted and compared to previously published experiment results. Wear mechanisms and their influence on the simulation are briefly discussed.