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A wedge penetration model to estimate leak through elastomer–metal interface

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Abstract

Elastomeric seals are devices that are widely used to prevent fluid leakage through the interface of a variety of mating industrial components. Gas leak through these seals involves gas flow through the interface of the seal and its corresponding mating component. This flow is understood to initiate due to separation of the surfaces at the sealing interface due to gas pressure. Modelling this separation can aid in optimizing seal designs and in estimating seal failure. In this paper, we develop a simple wedge penetration-based model to describe the separation. The frame work of the model is generic so that it can represent gradual as well as complete seal failures. We illustrate the applicability of this model for elastomer–metal interfaces which involve gradual separation. Nitrogen gas leak rate experimental data for stainless steel with three different elastomers are described using the model. We further discuss the processes and challenges involved in employing this model to estimate leak rate of gas through elastomeric seals of different geometries.

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(redrawn using data from Sudhamsu et al. [10])

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India

    Sri Krishna Sudhamsu Kambhammettu & Lakshmana Rao Chebolu

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India

    Abhijit P. Deshpande

Authors
  1. Sri Krishna Sudhamsu Kambhammettu
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  2. Lakshmana Rao Chebolu
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  3. Abhijit P. Deshpande
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Correspondence to Sri Krishna Sudhamsu Kambhammettu.

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Kambhammettu, S.K.S., Chebolu, L.R. & Deshpande, A.P. A wedge penetration model to estimate leak through elastomer–metal interface. Int J Adv Eng Sci Appl Math 12, 65–72 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-020-00262-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-020-00262-w

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