An
o-ring, also known as a packing, or a
toric
joint, is a mechanical
gasket in the shape of a
torus; it is a loop of
elastomer with a
disc-shaped
cross-section, designed to be seated in a groove and
compressed during assembly between two or more parts,
creating a
seal at the interface.
The joint may be static, or
(in some designs) have relative motion between the parts
and the o-ring; rotating
pump shafts and
hydraulic cylinders, for example. Joints with motion
usually require
lubrication of the o-ring to reduce wear. This is
typically accomplished with the fluid being sealed.
O-rings are one of the most common seals used in
machine design because they are inexpensive and easy to
make, reliable, and have simple mounting requirements.
They can seal tens of
megapascals (thousands of
psi) pressure.