Influence of surface roughness on molecular flow through labyrinth seals for space applications

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26210%2F26%3A0199268" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26210/26:0199268 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025039568" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025039568</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107905" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107905</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Influence of surface roughness on molecular flow through labyrinth seals for space applications

Original language description

Labyrinth seals are commonly used in space mechanisms to reduce evaporative losses of lubricant molecules and limit the transport of contaminants. Analytical models and numerical simulations for predicting mass flow through these seals typically assume smooth, idealized surfaces, neglecting the effects of realistic surface roughness. This study systematically investigates the impact of surface roughness on the transmission probability (TP) of oil molecules using Monte Carlo simulations under free molecular flow conditions. Key geometric and surface parameters including average roughness (Ra), corridor length, and seal width are varied to evaluate their influence on molecular transport. The results demonstrate that surface roughness significantly reduces TP and molecular flux, especially in narrow and elongated geometries. Furthermore, increasing surface roughness by an order of magnitude enables a reduction in channel length or an increase in gap width by approximately 35–40% while maintaining equivalent transmission probability. Based on these findings, a correction model is proposed to improve prediction accuracy and is validated against experimentally measured oil evaporative losses. This work highlights the potential of controlled surface texturing as a design strategy to both enhance sealing effectiveness and enable geometric reductions for improved compactness and manufacturability.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20301 - Mechanical engineering

Project

<a href="/en/project/EH22_008%2F0004634" target="_blank" >EH22_008/0004634: Mechanical engineering of biological and bio-inspired systems</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Results in Engineering

ISSN

2590-1230

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

28

Issue of the periodical within the volume

December

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001608135500008

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105022213281