Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 9787

Special Issue Editors

Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
Interests: fluid film bearings; fluid–structure interaction; hydrodynamic lubrication
Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
Interests: water-lubricated bearings; turbulence; hydrodynamic bearings

Special Issue Information

Modern high-speed machines require well-designed bearings and seals. Due to the variety of operating conditions and the elastic properties of the material, bearing and seals are susceptible to structural deformations. The performance parameters of bearings and seals are also sensitive to the variations in the flow conditions of the process fluids. Hence, there is an impetus to study various aspects of fluid–structure interaction in bearings and seals.

Major aim of this Special Issue is to promote original research articles and review papers, including various studies on fluid–structure interaction in bearings and seals. Topics related to mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental work on fluid–structure interaction in bearings and seals are encouraged.

Dear Colleagues,

Bearings and seals are vital structural members in modern high-speed machines. It is well known that these members have to sustain a variety of operating conditions without compromising their performance. Bearings and seals are also susceptible to structural deformation as they are composed of elastic materials. Structural deformation in turn alters the flow conditions in the fluid domain, and directly affects the performance parameters of bearings and seals. This interaction between fluid and structure can be well accounted using one-way and two-way fluid–structure interaction studies.

We are pleased to invite you to submit a full-length research article or review paper on fluid–structure interaction in bearings and seals. This Special Issue aims to promote at least 10 original research articles that cover various aspects of fluid–structure interaction in bearings and seals. In this Special Issue, original research articles on topics related to mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental work on fluid–structure interaction studies in bearings and seals as well as reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: FSI in bearings and seals, elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication, thermal effects in bearings and seals, stability aspects of different types of bearings and seals using FSI, performance of hydrodynamic/hydrostatic bearings and seals using FSI, design optimization of bearings and seals using FSI, and implementation using computer programs and software.

Prof. Dr. Satish Shenoy B
Dr. Ravindra Mallya
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • FSI in bearings and seals
  • elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication
  • thermal effects in bearings and seals
  • stability aspects of different types of bearings and seals using FSI
  • performance of hydrodynamic/hydrostatic bearings and seals using FSI
  • design optimization of bearings and seals using FSI
  • implementation using computer programs and software

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 8878 KiB  
Article
Research on Leakage Prediction Calculation Method for Dynamic Seal Ring in Underground Equipment
by Xiaohui Xu, Xin Li, Fengtao Wang and Chunmiao Xia
Lubricants 2023, 11(4), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants11040181 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1070
Abstract
The leakage prediction calculation method for dynamic seal rings in underground equipment is presented in this paper. The framework of the method is given. The leakage prediction model is built. The non-Newtonian fluid interface element is brought in. The leakage prediction calculation method [...] Read more.
The leakage prediction calculation method for dynamic seal rings in underground equipment is presented in this paper. The framework of the method is given. The leakage prediction model is built. The non-Newtonian fluid interface element is brought in. The leakage prediction calculation method was developed based on the thermal–structural coupled method and the fluid–structural coupled method. A test is performed to validate the proposed method. It is proved that the film thickness of an O-ring made of nitrile rubber in pulling-in travel is thicker than that in pushing-out travel. The leakage of an O-ring made of fluororubber is larger than that of an O-ring made of nitrile rubber in the same environmental condition. The presented method is useful for predicting the sealing ability of dynamic seal rings in underground equipment. Evaluation costs will be reduced with the given leakage prediction calculation method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals)
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20 pages, 5659 KiB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Flow Characteristics of a Large-Scale Annular Channel in Terms of Deformation Gradient, Eccentricity, and Water Compressibility
by Shendan Zhao, Yinshui Liu, Defa Wu, Chuanmin Wang and Zhenyao Wang
Lubricants 2023, 11(3), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants11030134 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1414
Abstract
Hydraulic water plunger pumps have come to be widely used in coal mining, seawater desalination, and oil exploitation due to their high output pressure and large flow characteristics. In a high-pressure large-flow plunger pump, the leakage of the annular channel of the plunger [...] Read more.
Hydraulic water plunger pumps have come to be widely used in coal mining, seawater desalination, and oil exploitation due to their high output pressure and large flow characteristics. In a high-pressure large-flow plunger pump, the leakage of the annular channel of the plunger pair is an essential factor affecting volume efficiency. The axial pressure gradient exists in the fluid inside the annular channel, resulting in the plunger and plunger sleeve forming similar funnel-like shapes. Moreover, the characteristics of large diameter, high working pressure, and low fluid viscosity of the plunger pump will lead to the complicated flow of the annular channel. The influence of eccentricity and structural deformation on leakage is difficult to evaluate. Therefore, considering the deformation gradient and eccentricity of the plunger pair and the compressibility of the water, the deformation equations and leakage equations of the annular channel under the laminar and turbulent flow state are derived in this study. The eccentricity and leakage of the annular channel under different pressure conditions are measured using a built sealing test bench. It is proved that the discrepancy between the calculated model and the experimental results is less than 6% under different pressures, which effectively predicts the sealing performance of plunger pumps. The results show that under the laminar flow condition, the effects of eccentricity, structural deformation, and medium compressibility on leakage are 148%, 4.92%, and 0.92%, respectively. In turbulent conditions, they were 31%, 2.84%, and 1.19%, respectively. Besides, the reasonable material pairing of the plunger friction pair can reduce the variation of leakage due to structural deformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals)
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14 pages, 8469 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of a New Designed Mechanical Seals with Spiral Groove Structures
by Tao He, Qiangqiang Zhang, Ying Yan, Jintong Dong and Ping Zhou
Lubricants 2023, 11(2), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants11020070 - 09 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1611
Abstract
The spiral groove seal has a strong hydrodynamic effect, but it has poor pollution resistance at the seal’s end and has unfavorable sealing stability. Circumferential waviness seals can use the fluid to clean the surface and have a strong ability to self-rush, protecting [...] Read more.
The spiral groove seal has a strong hydrodynamic effect, but it has poor pollution resistance at the seal’s end and has unfavorable sealing stability. Circumferential waviness seals can use the fluid to clean the surface and have a strong ability to self-rush, protecting the main cover from contamination. This study presents a novel wave-tilt-dam seal design that integrates spiral groove structures to enhance the hydrodynamic performance of circumferential waviness seals. The objective of the research is to evaluate the mechanical effectiveness of this new design through simulation modeling, with a focus on the impact of structural parameters such as rotational speed and seal pressure on the hydrodynamic behavior under various operating conditions. The results of the study indicate that the new structure effectively improves the hydrodynamic performance of the liquid seal, resulting in a significant increase in film rigidity. Additionally, the study identifies optimal values for structural parameters under specific conditions. By addressing the limitations of traditional spiral groove seals and improving their hydrodynamic performance, this research contributes to the advancement of seal technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals)
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19 pages, 6607 KiB  
Article
Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics of Rotary Shaft Seals
by Jeremias Grün, Simon Feldmeth and Frank Bauer
Lubricants 2022, 10(12), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants10120347 - 03 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1782
Abstract
The primary task of rotary shaft seals is to prevent an unwanted fluid transfer between two areas. In shaft passages of gearboxes, for example, rotary shaft seals avoid the leakage of transmission oil to ambient air. This means the flow in the lubricant [...] Read more.
The primary task of rotary shaft seals is to prevent an unwanted fluid transfer between two areas. In shaft passages of gearboxes, for example, rotary shaft seals avoid the leakage of transmission oil to ambient air. This means the flow in the lubricant film in the sealing gap between the sealing edge and the shaft surface consists of at least two phases. Taking the phenomenon of cavitation into account, the flow consists of three phases. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the multiphase flow in the lubricant film of rotary shaft seals. As experimental studies of the flow processes on a microscale have proven to be quite difficult, a simulation-based approach is applied. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) serves to compute the transient multiphase flows in the lubricant film in the sealing gap. The computational domain is a three-dimensional microscale model of the lubricant film. The results show the transient hydrodynamic pressure buildup and the dynamic phase interactions during operation. This study provides far-reaching insights into the multiphase flow processes in the lubricant film in the sealing gap and simulation-based evidence of the lubrication and sealing mechanism of rotary shaft seals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals)
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Review

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22 pages, 3359 KiB  
Review
A Review of Turbine and Compressor Aerodynamic Forces in Turbomachinery
by Luis San Andrés
Lubricants 2023, 11(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants11010026 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3059
Abstract
Aerodynamic forces due to blade-tip clearance eccentricity are a known destabilizing source in rotating machinery with unshrouded impellers. Dynamic forces also appear in shrouded impellers, due to changes in the pressure in the gap between the impeller casing and its shroud. These are [...] Read more.
Aerodynamic forces due to blade-tip clearance eccentricity are a known destabilizing source in rotating machinery with unshrouded impellers. Dynamic forces also appear in shrouded impellers, due to changes in the pressure in the gap between the impeller casing and its shroud. These are load-dependent forces typically characterized by a cross-coupled stiffness coefficient (k > 0). This paper reviews the archival literature for quantification of blade-tip clearance induced forces and impeller-casing forces in both unshrouded and shrouded turbines and compressors. Most distinctive are the lack of experimental results and the indiscriminate application of simple formulas to predict k, including Alford’s and Wachel’s equations. The disparity in estimations of the destabilizing k extends to recent CFD models and results. Hence, rotordynamic predictions vary widely. This review reveals that engineering practice ignores accurate physical models that could bridge the gap between practice and theory. As the energy market shifts toward carbon capture and hydrogen compression, accurate knowledge of aerodynamic forces from unshrouded compressors and open impellers will become necessary in multi-stage rotors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluid–Structure Interaction in Bearings and Seals)
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