Boot seals are used to protect steering mechanisms in automobiles. These flexible components must accommodate the motions associated with angulation of the steering mechanism. Some regions of the boot seal are always in contact with an internal metal shaft, while other areas come into contact with the metal shaft during the angulation. In addition, the boot seal may also come into contact with itself, both internally and externally. The contacting regions affect the performance and longevity of the seal.
Contact is specified between the inner surfaces of the boot seal and the rigid shaft.
The analysis proceeds in two steps. First, an initial interference fit is resolved, corresponding to the assembly process of mounting the boot seal onto the shaft. Next, the shaft is rotated through 20 . Deformed configuration at 20 degrees rotation of shaft. Contours of maximum principal stress in boot.