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O-Ring Squeeze Percentage Formula:
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O-Ring Squeeze Percentage is a critical parameter in seal design that measures the compression of an O-ring within its gland. It represents the percentage reduction in cross-sectional diameter when the O-ring is installed in its groove.
The calculator uses the O-Ring Squeeze Percentage formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage compression of the O-ring by comparing the free cross-section diameter with the installed gland depth.
Details: Proper O-ring squeeze is essential for effective sealing. Too little squeeze may cause leakage, while excessive squeeze can lead to premature failure, extrusion, or high friction. Typical recommended squeeze percentages range from 10-30% depending on the application and material.
Tips: Enter the O-ring's cross-section diameter and the gland depth in millimeters. Both values must be positive numbers, and the gland depth cannot exceed the cross-section diameter.
Q1: What is the ideal O-ring squeeze percentage?
A: For static seals, typical squeeze is 15-30%. For dynamic seals, it's usually 10-20%. The exact percentage depends on the material, application, and operating conditions.
Q2: What happens if squeeze is too high?
A: Excessive squeeze can cause high friction, extrusion damage, compression set, and premature seal failure due to material stress.
Q3: What happens if squeeze is too low?
A: Insufficient squeeze may result in leakage, especially under low pressure conditions or with surface imperfections.
Q4: How does temperature affect squeeze requirements?
A: Higher temperatures may require slightly higher initial squeeze to compensate for thermal expansion of mating parts and potential material relaxation.
Q5: Are there different recommendations for different O-ring materials?
A: Yes, harder materials typically require higher squeeze percentages than softer materials to achieve effective sealing.