Thermo-mechanical coupling analysis of the end faces for a mechanical seal under dry friction

Abstract

A three-dimensional rotating sliding contact model was developed to study transient dry friction characteristics of a mechanical seal based on a modified W-M fractal function. The mechanical action and thermal-mechanical coupling between asperities were simulated using the software ABAQUS. The effects of external load, rotating speed and roughness on contact characteristics of the friction pair (carbon graphite/tungsten carbide) were investigated. The stress on cross section of the rough entity was studied. The results show that circumferential normal stress of contact asperity changes in axial direction from compressive stress to tensile stress to compressive stress, and tensile stress may cause crack propagation in the carbon graphite ring. The roughness Ra has great influence on stress and temperature distribution of rough entity.