Investigation of cavitation evolution and hydrodynamic performances of oil film seal with spiral groove

This paper presents cavitation action of the oil film seal with downstream-pumping spiral groove and effect of cavitation on the hydrodynamic performances. A hydrodynamic lubricant model with JFO cavitation boundary is established and the visual experiments of cavitation under different working conditions are conducted, the cavitation evolution acquired and the theoretical and experimental leakage compared. Results show that higher speed effectively promotes cavitation but higher oil pressure inhibits it. Both increasing groove number and decreasing groove angle with limits reduce the cavitation zone but effects of them on the cavitation boundaries are different. By comparison, the cavitation occurrence plays an active role in the reduction of film thickness, improvement of oil film stiffness and the reduction of leakage.