Study of Contact Stress and Extrusion of Vane Seals via Numerical Method

Contact stress of vane seals is studied by using numerical and FEA method based on the linear elasticity theory. Results show that numerical model is appropriate to predict the distributing curve of contact stress when the maximum normal strain is lower than 10-15%. But, with sealed extrusion, finite element analysis (FEA) would be better due to the complexity of the material properties, local geometry and boundary conditions. Accordingly, nonlinear FEA analysis is adopted to study the effect of section shape and section structure on the extrusion process of vane seals. Results illustrate that extrusion occurs with elastomeric seals with rectangular section while a backup PTFE can minimize or eliminate the extrusion.