Fluid Leakage in Static Rubber Seals

Interfacial surface roughness can result in fluid leakage of seals, and in the design of seals it is standard to give an upper limit for the surface root-mean-square (rms) roughness amplitude h(rms). However, h(rms) is determined mainly by the long-wavelength roughness, which is (nearly) irrelevant for the sealing. I discuss the parameters which determine the leakage of seals, and present results for static rubber seals with circular cross-section (like rubber O-rings). I also study the influence of the fluid pressure on the interfacial surface separation and the leakrate. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

This article discusses the impact of interfacial surface roughness on seal leakage and presents results for static rubber seals. The influence of fluid pressure on interfacial surface separation and leak rate is also studied.