Fast performance-analysis of rectangular-rounded hydraulic reciprocating seals: Mathematical model and experimental validation at temperatures between −54 and +135 °C

Solid mechanics and rough thermoelastohydrodynamics of hydraulic, rectangular-rounded, reciprocating seals with hydrodynamic, asperity, deformation and van-der-Waals stresses are analytically formulated. Seal swelling or shrinkage by fluid exchange and fluid contact starvation are easily set. Computations require less than 0.05 s of a personal computer's time, allowing for extremely fast parametric studies. Experimental validation follows at −54, +23 and +135 °C, far exceeding other studies at both ends of the scale. Theoretical and experimental results are compared after 1000 stroking cycles. This has not been attempted to this extent before but is important to judge a model's applicability post running-in and in effect of seal abrasive wear, and not just for the first few stroking cycles with a brand new seal.