Face-seal lubrication. 2: Theory of response to angular misalignement

A theoretical analysis was made of a hypothetical seal operating mode. The hypothetical seal model provides for three degrees of primary ring motion and includes the force and moments induced by primary ring response to seat angular misalignment. This ring response causes a relative angular misalignment between the faces of the primary seal. Hydrodynamic pressure generation is produced by this misalignment. The analysis is based on the Reynolds equation in short bearing form and on a balance of forces and moments that arise from hydrodynamic and secondary seal friction effects. A closed form solution was obtained that can be solved for film thickness and relative angular misalignment.