Abstract
<jats:p>Sealing assemblies play an important role in ensuring the durability of various technical systems. Therefore, the correct choice of sealing elements in the manufacture and repair of machines, the justification of the geometric parameters of the seating surfaces under them allows not only to ensure the necessary level of tightness of the joints of machine parts after their assembly, but also to maintain it with minimal labor and money throughout the entire time of operation of the equipment. (Research purpose) The research purpose is increasing the life of sealing joints by reducing the rate of relaxation of contact stresses of the sealer by modifying the surfaces of the contacting parts. (Materials and methods) Conducted an analysis of modern scientific approaches to improve the reliability of sealing joints of machines. The effectiveness of the proposed designs of sealing joints with modified surfaces of the contacting parts was substantiated on the basis of numerical simulation. (Results and discussion) It was found that if a certain part of the array of the sealing element is subjected to all-round compression, i.e. volumetric deformation, and a part is left with a free boundary to allow swelling in contact with the working fluid or compensation for dimensional errors in the manufacture of parts, it is possible to create a sealing compound with an increased resource. We have developed fixed and movable sealing joints with an increased resource. It was determined that the connection with the modified groove for the seal provides a significantly longer service life compared to the standard sealing unit. (Conclusions) Modification of the mating surfaces of the contacting parts of movable and fixed sealing joints makes it possible to significantly increase their service life by reducing the relaxation rate of the contact stresses of the seal. Upgraded sealing joints with increased durability can be used for both new and refurbished equipment.</jats:p>