Physical Modeling and Data Analysis of the Dynamic Response of a Flexibly Mounted Rotor Mechanical Seal

Abstract

The dynamic behavior of mechanical face seals has been an active area of research over the past three decades. Analytical and experimental investigations have exclusively been devoted to the flexibly mounted stator (FMS) seal. Recent theoretical work on the dynamics of the noncontacting flexibly mounted rotor (FMR) seal has proven that it excels in every aspect of dynamic behavior compared to the FMS seal. The advantages of the FMR seal, however, have to be experimentally verified. This work introduces a physical model (i.e., test rig) for an experimental investigation of the dynamic behavior of a noncontacting FMR seal. Features of the test rig, a new method of modeling and measuring the stiffness and damping of elastomeric O-ring secondary seals, and data analysis procedures will be introduced. Finally, experimental results will be compared with theory.