Inter-asperity cavitation and global cavitation in seals:: an average flow analysis

A universal, average Reynolds equation was previously developed to model the combined effects of inter-asperity cavitation and global cavitation in lubricating films between rough surfaces. In this study, the universal, average Reynolds equation is applied to two types of rotating shaft seals: lip seals and mechanical face seals. Inter-asperity cavitation is shown to affect the sealing mechanism of lip seals and to influence the behavior of new, worn, and wavy mechanical face seals.