Rubber sealing study applied to ball bearing components using Finite Element Method

Several mechanical applications require different levels of protection and effective sealing against dirt and external substances assuring no lubricant leakage, low friction, thermal resistance and long operational life. At the field of ball bearing, rubber seal is specially applied due to its particular mechanical behavior. In this study solid rubber viscoelasticity behavior is shortly described including material models and test characteristic parameters like the well-know Mullin effect. Friction, temperature and centrifugal forces are some of the most important parameters to be analyzed. Furthermore a static finite element model using the commercial software ABAQUS is presented. More general discussion is done among the interaction of rubber seal, its metal reinforcement and the adjacent components bringing additional macro uncertain variables to the analysis such as dimensional variation and uncontrolled manufacturing seal shape process. End comments will be presented and further improvements will be pointed out.