Elasto-hydrodynamic analysis of reciprocating piston seals with micro-asperities on cylinder surface

ABSTRACT

The reciprocating piston seals are crucial parts in the hydraulic system, which are widely used in aerospace and military industry. A direct fluid–structure coupling method with high efficiency is proposed for solving the transient elaso-hydrodynamic-lubrication problem in the hydropneumatic suspension reciprocating piston seal system. A detailed three-dimensional fluid–structure coupling model is built using finite element discretization. Material tests are carried out to obtain the parameters of the third-order Ogden constitutive model of the rubber O-ring. The sealing performance and friction force of the sealing system are analysed for different piston speed. The critical speed from mixed lubrication to full-film lubrication is obtained. Three different micro-asperity geometries on cylinder surface are researched for their influence on piston sealing and lubrication performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Fluid–structure coupling
• reciprocating piston seal
• elasto-hydrodynamics
• micro-asperity
• hydropneumatic suspension
• Ogden constitutive model
• laser surface texturing
• micro-shape topology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University for crash and safety.