Dynamic Response of Eccentric Face Seals to Synchronous Shaft Whirl

Abstract

This work provides an analytical technique for computing the seal face misalignment which results from synchronous whirl of the shaft. The eccentric dynamic response is obtained for seals in which both mating faces are mounted on flexible supports. Responses for seals with a single flexibly mounted stator or rotor are also obtained as degenerate cases of the more general result. Synchronous shaft whirl is shown to have a significant effect on the steady-state response of all these seals, while not affecting the stability threshold. The steady-state response is obtained by solution of a simple matrix equation for the general case, and can be obtained in closed form for the degenerate cases of the flexibly mounted stator or flexibly mounted rotor. A numerical example of the solution technique is presented, and the influence of speed is examined. Extension of the method to shaft motions other than synchronous whirl is briefly discussed.