Modelling the Rubbing Process in Labyrinth Seals

To understand the complex rubbing process between labyrinth seal fins and honeycomb liners, experimental investigations are considered for an idealized contact between a metal sheet, representing the honeycomb part, and a rotating seal fin. Modifications of our test rig allow to measure the resulting rub forces, temperatures and wear of the seal fin and metal sheet for a wide range of circumferential velocities and incursion rates. The rotor material is Inconel 718, and the metal sheets consist of the nickel-based super-alloys Hastelloy X and Haynes 214. To define appropriate boundary conditions for the experiment, a one-dimensional numerical model is introduced. It takes into account kinematic contact conditions, friction, heat conduction, and abrasive and plastic wear. The use of analytical relations and parallel computing enables a time-efficient computation of multiple scenarios. Therefore, it is possible to identify the effect of variations and uncertainties of the input parameters on the results and derive an optimized test plan.