FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS APPLIED TO A METAL-TO-METAL SEAL DESIGN

Abstract

This work presents the use of a finite element model software and suggests its use as a tool to develop metal-to-metal seals with the objective of reducing the number of designs and empirical tests, increasing possibility of success during validation tests, decreasing the number of repetitions of real tests needed, therefore, reducing execution costs. The present work configures a model of seal in a finite element analysis software and simulates different sizes of meshes to evaluate which configuration presented results and computational costs compatible with this work. Then, it develops different models in an interactive way, this is, it performs geometry changes with the intention of optimizing results. At the end of each model, it evaluates the results. This work develops and evaluates six models. At last, the authors selected the model which presented enough contact pressure to perform the sealing. This model presented a compatible stress in accordance with the failure criteria adopted, plastic strain in an acceptable range, and system behavior in accordance with that suggested by Sweeney, Brammer, and Chalmers (2004) in seal extremities.