Effect of rotating shaft vibration on lip seal performance

Abstract

Rotary lip seals are important components in various rotating machinery and are inevitably affected by vibration. This paper introduces the first simulation model for rotary lip seals under radial sinusoidal vibration conditions based on the mixed lubrication theory. Using the proposed model, the effects of varying vibration amplitudes and frequencies on the tracking performance, leakage rate, and friction torque of lip seals were analyzed. The simulation results indicate that, the leakage rate exhibits an initial increase followed by decrease as the vibration amplitude increases, while the friction torque exhibits a decrease followed by increase. Excessively high vibration frequencies may induce separation between the lip and shaft surface, resulting in severe leakage.