Fluid Leakage in Static Rubber Seals

Abstract

Interfacial surface roughness can result in fluid leakage of seals, and in the design of seals it is standard to give an upper limit for the surface root-mean-square (rms) roughness amplitude hrms. However, hrms is determined mainly by the long-wavelength roughness, which is (nearly) irrelevant for the sealing. I discuss the parameters which determine the leakage of seals, and present results for static rubber seals with circular cross-section (like rubber O-rings). I also study the influence of the fluid pressure on the interfacial surface separation and the leakrate. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].