Experimental study on stress relaxation of rubber O-ring for mechanical seal

Abstract

The stress relaxation process and its variation law under multiple stresses have an important impact on the performance of rubber O-rings. An O-ring experimental device was developed, the end contact forces of the O-ring under the conditions of the single and multiple stresses were tested, and the contact force retention rate was calculated based on the test results. The change processes and laws of the end face contact force and the retention rate were obtained by the analyses of the experimental data under the different impact factors. The experimental results indicated that the compression ratio of the O-ring can increase the end contact force, but the greater compression ratio results in greater attenuation of contact force and longer attenuation time. The medium temperature hurts the contact force retention rate, and the medium pressure is conducive to stabilizing the contact force retention rate.