Groove design
Groove design is one of the tasks involved in designing a sealing system. In the case of the particularly widespread sealing with O-rings, the radial groove is usually the installation space for the sealing element.
The main aim of the groove design is to create a defined elastic deformation of the sealing element between the two sealing surfaces (so-called compression). The depth of the groove is defined accordingly for this purpose. The groove design also includes the definition of the following features:
- Groove shape
- Width of the groove
- Rounding of the groove edges
- Roughness of the surfaces
#1 Definition of groove design
The groove design is part of the design of a sealing system. The task is to geometrically determine the installation space (groove) of the sealing element in such a way that the seal can permanently withstand the operating conditions.
#2 Meaning of the groove design
A groove design adapted to the operating conditions is crucial for the durability of O-ring seals. The correct groove design ensures the necessary elastic compression and protects the sealing element from damage caused by pressure, friction, swelling and installation errors.
