Research on the wear characteristics of magnetorheological fluid in sealing interface considering the interaction between surface roughness and magnetic particles

In this paper, the influence of magnetorheological fluid (MRF) on the wear mechanism of sealing pairs under different surface roughness is studied from the perspective of theoretical analysis and experimental verification. Simulation analysis shows that the coupling of roughness and microparticles changes contact pressure and frictional stress distribution on O-ring acted by asperities. Combined with wear morphologies, it is further proved that roughness affects the movement pattern of particles in the sealing gap, thereby determining the tribodynamic behavior of MRF. Specifically, the roughest sample shows low friction coefficient and best wear resistance, while the smoothest sample exhibits worse tribological performance. The above analysis is the reason for the sealing wear under MRF is completely opposite to that of base oil.