Adaptive Lubrication Enhancement of Piston Ring Seals via Fluid Pressure-Induced Waviness for High-Power Clutches

High-power clutches operating under high-frequency engagement–disengagement cycles demand piston ring seals with exceptional leakage control and tribological reliability. Conventional architectures often experience lubrication failure and severe adhesive wear during transient pressure fluctuations. This research proposes an autonomous intelligent sealing strategy leveraging fluid pressure-induced morphological evolution. By strategically integrating periodic macroscopic structural relief features on the non-sealing surface, the sealing interface transforms into a micron-scale wavy topography in response to hydraulic loading. This structurally embedded intelligence significantly improves fluid pressure distribution, facilitating a transition toward a more favorable lubrication regime. Furthermore, a “self-healing and positional stagnation” logic is elucidated: upon pressure dissipation, the induced waviness elastically recovers to a planar state to ensure sealing integrity, while the ring maintains its axial position due to the predominant frictional resistance of the secondary seal. This synergistic mechanism effectively precludes deleterious dry friction during the clutch disengagement phase. High-fidelity numerical investigations, benchmarked against established experimental data, identify the rectangular groove configuration as the optimal geometry for maximizing waviness amplitude (≈1.5 µm). This research provides a robust framework for developing responsive, zero-wear intelligent seals in advanced power transmissions.