Thermoelastic and Dynamic Phenomena in Seals

Abstract

An analysis of a seal model is made where the rotating element has both fixed tilt and two-lobe waviness. The stator is assumed to be gimbal mounted and to have inertial mass. Hydrodynamic lubrication is assumed, following the short bearing or narrow seal model. Conditions are examined where the stator precesses in synchronism with the rotor rotation. Particular interest is given to operating conditions where such behavior appears to degenerate. The objective of this study is to explain a coupled, inertial/thermoelastic phenomenon observed in experiments performed by Banerjee.