Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects

In slurry shield tunneling projects, leakage from floating seals frequently leads to abnormal failures of disc cutters. To investigate the leakage characteristics at the floating seal end faces of the cutters, a numerical method is proposed for analyzing the dynamic leakage behavior of the floating...

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Main Authors: Gang Hu, Zhengzhong Zhou, Zhihao Zhang, Haiming Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Lubricants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/5/227
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author Gang Hu
Zhengzhong Zhou
Zhihao Zhang
Haiming Zhao
author_facet Gang Hu
Zhengzhong Zhou
Zhihao Zhang
Haiming Zhao
author_sort Gang Hu
collection DOAJ
description In slurry shield tunneling projects, leakage from floating seals frequently leads to abnormal failures of disc cutters. To investigate the leakage characteristics at the floating seal end faces of the cutters, a numerical method is proposed for analyzing the dynamic leakage behavior of the floating seal end faces, considering the effects of wear. The elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem of the floating seal was addressed using the Reynolds equation and the slicing method, leading to the development of a computational model for the pressure and thickness distribution of the oil film on rough surfaces. Based on the Archard wear equation, a dynamic surface roughness model considering wear was established. Furthermore, a numerical model for dynamic leakage of the floating seal end faces in shield machine cutters, incorporating wear effects, was developed. Simulated friction and wear tests of the floating seal end faces, along with cutter seal leakage experiments, were conducted for validation. The results demonstrate that the dynamic surface roughness model considering wear can effectively predict the roughness evolution of worn surfaces. The trend of the theoretical leakage rate is generally consistent with that of the experimental results, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed model.
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series Lubricants
spelling doaj-art-82de7c12a4df4ebda43327c12b9afac92025-08-20T03:14:35ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-05-0113522710.3390/lubricants13050227Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear EffectsGang Hu0Zhengzhong Zhou1Zhihao Zhang2Haiming Zhao3College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaIn slurry shield tunneling projects, leakage from floating seals frequently leads to abnormal failures of disc cutters. To investigate the leakage characteristics at the floating seal end faces of the cutters, a numerical method is proposed for analyzing the dynamic leakage behavior of the floating seal end faces, considering the effects of wear. The elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem of the floating seal was addressed using the Reynolds equation and the slicing method, leading to the development of a computational model for the pressure and thickness distribution of the oil film on rough surfaces. Based on the Archard wear equation, a dynamic surface roughness model considering wear was established. Furthermore, a numerical model for dynamic leakage of the floating seal end faces in shield machine cutters, incorporating wear effects, was developed. Simulated friction and wear tests of the floating seal end faces, along with cutter seal leakage experiments, were conducted for validation. The results demonstrate that the dynamic surface roughness model considering wear can effectively predict the roughness evolution of worn surfaces. The trend of the theoretical leakage rate is generally consistent with that of the experimental results, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed model.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/5/227shield machine cutterfloating sealwear effectsleakage characteristicselastohydrodynamic lubricationnumerical simulation
spellingShingle Gang Hu
Zhengzhong Zhou
Zhihao Zhang
Haiming Zhao
Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
Lubricants
shield machine cutter
floating seal
wear effects
leakage characteristics
elastohydrodynamic lubrication
numerical simulation
title Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
title_full Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
title_fullStr Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
title_short Investigation of the Dynamic Leakage Characteristics of Floating Seal End Faces in Shield Machine Cutters with Consideration of Wear Effects
title_sort investigation of the dynamic leakage characteristics of floating seal end faces in shield machine cutters with consideration of wear effects
topic shield machine cutter
floating seal
wear effects
leakage characteristics
elastohydrodynamic lubrication
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/5/227
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AT zhengzhongzhou investigationofthedynamicleakagecharacteristicsoffloatingsealendfacesinshieldmachinecutterswithconsiderationofweareffects
AT zhihaozhang investigationofthedynamicleakagecharacteristicsoffloatingsealendfacesinshieldmachinecutterswithconsiderationofweareffects
AT haimingzhao investigationofthedynamicleakagecharacteristicsoffloatingsealendfacesinshieldmachinecutterswithconsiderationofweareffects