This study investigates the non-Newtonian effects on liquid film seal performance by considering cavitation and thermoelastic deformation—critical factors in high-pressure sealing applications such as nuclear reactor coolant pumps and aerospace systems. We developed a coupled numerical model that simultaneously solves the Reynolds equation using a power-law constitutive model to analyze hydrodynamic performance and employs the energy equation and thermal-structural analysis to determine the temperature distribution and radial taper deformation of the seal rings. The results reveal that the power-law exponent (n) critically influences sealing behavior: shear-thinning fluids (n 1) increase the friction torque by 18.3% through thermally-induced tapered convergence effects. We established quantitative relationships between rheological properties, thermal deformation, and sealing performance, demonstrating that non-Newtonian characteristics fundamentally alter the fluid–structure interaction mechanisms in liquid-film seals. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing seal designs under extreme operating conditions where conventional Newtonian assumptions prove inadequate, particularly addressing the critical need for enhanced reliability in nuclear and aerospace sealing systems.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.