Mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of rotary lip seal with non-Gaussian surfaces: experimentation verification and numerical analysis on effects of sealed pressure

Many published models can be used to analyse the sealing performance of rotary lip seal. The surfaces are normally assumed to be periodic variation. However, the quasi-randomness of surface height distribution should be considered, especially the non-Gaussian distribution. Hence, a mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication model with non-Gaussian surfaces is proposed and used to analyse the effects of sealed fluid pressure on the seal performance in this paper. Based on digital filter and Johnson’s translator system, a rough surface simulation method is introduced to simulate non-Gaussian rough surface. Based on this method the mixed lubrication model with non-Gaussian surfaces is built. The proposed model is verified by comparing the simulation results to experimental observations. Furthermore, it is hardly to find the research focused on the effects of sealed pressure. Hence, the effects of sealed fluid pressure on the seal performance is focused.