Mechanical analysis of sealing performance for compression packer rubber tube

Abstract

The compression packer rubber is one of the core components of the packer. According to the sealing mechanism of the compression packers rubber, the deformation of rubber between the central tube and casing tube is analyzed in the initial and working stages. The compression rubber is also strained radially against the support ring by means of a controlled tubular expansion process. In this paper, the theoretical model for the deformation analysis is established by the structure and working characteristics of rubber tube. In addition, the nonlinear relationship between the material, geometry and stress in the constrained and stable deformation stages is analyzed by application of pressure methods. The analytical results show the contact pressure and shear stress distribution on the sealing surface of the rubber and the effect of rubber geometry and its material properties on sealing performance in terms of maximum sealing pressure. Then, the criterion of sealing performance evaluation of the rubber is established by the numerical results. This analytical model will provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the structural design of the compression packer rubber and it will be of great significance to improve the sealing performance and reliability of packer rubber.