Shaft roughness effect on elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication of rotary lip seals: Experimentation and numerical simulation

First, the present study describes an experimental work that provides a basis upon which a numerical EHL model of rotary lip seal is constructed by taking into account both the shaft and lip roughness. After confirming the validity of the current model by comparing experimental with numerical results, simulations have been performed and have underlined the effect of shaft roughness amplitude and profile on the rotary lip seal performance. It is shown that for shaft roughness beyond half of the lip roughness, the seal may leak.