Numerical Analysis of Dynamic Coefficients for Gas Film Face Seals

Abstract

A numerical analysis of stiffness and damping coefficients for gas film face seals in three degrees of freedom is presented in this paper. By applying small perturbation approximation, the steady and perturbed Reynolds equations, taking account of both hydrodynamic and hydrostatic effects, are obtained and solved by finite element method. Several numerical samples, including externally pressurized annular thrust gas bearings and spiral groove thrust gas bearings, validate the model and numerical algorithm. The results show that the interactions between axial and angular perturbation are negligible. Hence, in the dynamic analysis of gas film face seals, the perturbation in three degrees of freedom can be simplified as two independent ones, an axial movement and an angular wobble around two orthogonal axes perpendicular to axial direction.