RING DESIGN

ENGINEERING DESIGN

ENGINEERING DESIGN
Smalley Spiral Retaining Ring and Snap Ring applications, although diverse, can be analyzed with a straight forward set of design
calculations. There are four main areas that should be considered in most applications.
1. Material Selection
2. Load Capacity
3. Rotational Capacity
4. Installation Stress
Smalley Application Engineers are available to provide immediate technical assistance.
The following pages of Spiral Retaining Ring and Snap Ring engineering design have been developed from over 40 years of
extensive testing and research into the various applications of retaining rings. The formulas are provided for the preliminary analysis
of a ring application and the design of a Smalley Retaining Ring.
Design engineers commonly associate the word retaining ring to a basic style or type of retaining device. In reality, retaining rings
are nearly as diverse as their applications. Smalley Spiral Retaining Rings offer a distinct alternative and in many instances an
advantage over the more common retaining rings available on the market today. Some of the major distinctions are:
3 6 0 R E TA I N I N G S U R FA C E
No gap no protruding ears.
S P I R A L W O U N D I N M U LT I P L E T U R N S
Increases load capacity yet allows easy assembly by
hand or as an automated process.

Diameters from .200" to 90"

UNIFORM RADIAL SECTION

Provides a pleasant appearance on the assembled
product. Beneficial when radial clearance is
limited.

ENGINEERING

S I M P L I F I E D A S S E M B LY
Wind into groove. No special pliers/tools
needed to install or remove. Removal notch
provided for easy removal using a screwdriver.

96

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
Ring thickness can be changed to accommodate most any
application by either varying material thickness and/or number of
turns. Standard rings meet military and aerospace specifications.
Special designs are produced quick and economical in many alloys.
WWW.SMALLEY.COM

RING DESIGN
LOAD CAPACITY
Understanding the load capacity of a Smalley Retaining Ring assembly requires calculations for both ring shear and groove
deformation, with the design limitation being the lesser of the two.
The load capacity formulas do not take into account any dynamic or eccentric loading. If this type of loading exists, the proper safety
factor should be applied and product testing conducted. In addition, the groove geometry and edge margin (i.e., the distance of the
groove from the end of the shaft or housing) should be considered.
When abusive operating conditions exist, true ring performance is best determined thorough actual testing.
RING SHEAR
Although not commonly associated as a typical failure
of Smalley Retaining Rings, ring shear can be a design
limitation when hardened steel is used as a groove
material. Ring thrust load capacities based on ring
shear are provided within this catalogs tables of
standard rings. These values are based on a shear
strength of carbon steel with the recommended safety
factor of 3.
FORMULA:
PR =

D T SS
K

G R O OV E D E F O R M AT I O N ( Y I E L D )
Groove deformation is by far the most common design limitation of
retaining rings. As permanent groove deformation occurs, the ring begins
to twist. As the angle of twist increases, the ring begins to enlarge in
diameter. Ultimately, the ring becomes dished and extrudes (rolls) out of
the groove. As a conservative interpretation, the following equation
calculates the point of initial groove deformation. This does not
constitute failure which occurs at a much higher value. A safety factor of
2 is suggested. Ring thrust load capabilities based on groove deformation
are provided within this catalogs tables of standard rings.
FORMULA:

Where:
PR = Allowable thrust load based on ring shear (lb)
D = Shaft or housing diameter (in)
T = Ring thickness (in)
SS = Shear strength of ring material (psi)
K = Safety factor (3 recommended)
EXAMPLE:
1. WH-550-S16

PERMANENT
GROOVE
MATERIAL
DEFORMATION

D d Sy
PG =
K
Where:
PG = Allowable thrust load based on
groove deformation (lb)
D = Shaft or housing diameter (in)
d = Groove depth (in)
Sy = Yield strength of groove material
(psi), see Table 1
K = Safety factor (2 recommended)

2. Safety factor = 3

EXAMPLE:

PR = 5.500 (.072) 108,000 ()

3

1. WH-550-S16

PR = 44,787 lb

3. Safety factor = 2

2. Groove material yield strength = 45,000 psi

RING
SHEAR

PG =

5.500 (.074) 45,000 ()

2

PG = 28,769 lb
T Y P I CA L G R O O V E M AT E R I A L Y I E L D S T R E N G T H S

The thrust load based on ring shear above, must be

compared to the thrust load based on groove
deformation to determine which is the limiting factor
in the design.
CALL SMALLEY AT

847.719.5900

110,000 psi
70,000 psi
45,000 psi
40,000 psi
10-40,000 psi

Table 1
Since ring shear was calculated at 44,787 lb, the groove yields
before the ring shears. Therefore 28,769 lb is the load capacity
of the retaining ring.

ENGINEERING

Hardened Steel 8620

Cold Drawn Steel 1018
Hot Rolled Steel 1018
Aluminum 2017
Cast Iron

97

RING DESIGN
GROOVE GEOMETRY
GROOVE RADIUS
To assure maximum load capacity it is essential to have square corners on the groove and retained components. Additionally, retained
components must always be square to the ring groove in order to maintain a uniform concentric load against the retained part. The
radius at the bottom of the groove should be no larger than table 2 states.
MAXIMUM RADIUS
ON GROOVE BOTTOM

SHAFT OR HOUSING
DIAMETER
1 inch and under
Over 1 inch

MAXIMUM RADIUS
ON GROOVE BOTTOM
.005 Max.
.010 Max.

SHARP
CORNER

Table 2

R E TA I N E D C O M P O N E N T
MAXIMUM CHAMFER

The retained part ideally has a square corner and

contacts the ring as close as possible to the housing or
shaft. The maximum recommended radius or chamfer
allowable on the retained part can be calculated with
the following formulas.

FORMULA:
Maximum Chamfer = .375(b - d)
(on retained component)

MINIMIZE
DISTANCE
d

Where:
b = Radial wall (in)
d = Groove depth (in)

MAXIMUM RADIUS

EXAMPLE:
1. WH-100
Maximum Chamfer = .375(.075-.021) = .020 in
Maximum Radius = .5(.075-.021) = .027 in

FORMULA:
Maximum Radius = .5(b - d)
(on retained component)

MINIMIZE
DISTANCE
d

EDGE MARGIN
Ring grooves which are located near the end of a shaft or housing should have an adequate edge margin to maximize strength. Both
shear and bending should be checked and the larger value selected for the edge margin. As a general rule, the minimum edge margin
may be approximated by a value of 3 times the groove depth.
FORMULA:
Shear

Bending

1
2

ENGINEERING

K3P
z=
SY DG

K6dP
z=
SY DG

EXAMPLE:
1. VS-125
2. Groove material yield strength = 40,000 psi
3. Safety factor = 3
4. Load = 1000 lb

Where:
z = Edge margin (in)
P = Load (lb)
DG= Groove diameter (in)
SY = Yield strength of groove material (psi), Table 1
d = Groove depth (in)
K = Safety factor (3 recommended)
Shear

Bending

3 (3) 1000
z=
40,000 (1.206)

3 (6) .022 (1000)

z=
40,000 (1.206)

z = .059 in

z = .051 in

1
2

Therefore the minimum edge margin that should be used is .059 in

98

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RING DESIGN
ROTATIONAL CAPACITY
The maximum recommended RPM for all standard external Smalley Retaining Rings are listed in the ring tables of this manual.
A Smalley Retaining Ring, operating on a rotating shaft, can be limited by centrifugal forces. Failure may occur when these
centrifugal forces are great enough to lift the ring from the groove. The formula below calculates the RPM at which the force holding
the ring tight on the groove (cling) becomes zero.
Rapid acceleration of the assembly may cause failure of the retaining ring. If this is a potential problem, contact Smalley engineering
for design assistance.
MAXIMUM RPM
FORMULA:
N=

3600 V E I g
(42) Y A RM5

1
2

Where: N = Maximum allowable rpm (rpm)

E = Modulus of elasticity (psi)
I = Moment of inertia = (t x b3)12 (in4)
g = Gravitational acceleration (in/sec2), 386.4 in/sec2
V = Cling2 = (DG - DI)2 (in)
DG= Groove diameter (in)
DI = Free inside diameter (in)
Y = Multiple turn factor, Table 3
n = Number of turns
= Material density (lb/in3), (assume .283 lb/in3)
A = Cross sectional area = (t x b) - (.12)t2 (in2)
t = Material thickness (in)
b = Radial wall (in)
RM= Mean free radius = (DI + b)2 (in)

n
Y

1.909

3.407

4.958

6.520

Table 3
EXAMPLE:
1. WSM-150
V = (DG - DI)2 = (1.406-1.390)2 = .008 in
I = (t x b3)12 = (.024 x .1183)12 = 3.29 x 10-6 in4
A = (t x b)-(.12)t2 = (.024 x .118)-.12(.024)2 = .00276 in2
RM= (DI + b)2 = (1.390+.118)2 = .754 in
N=

3600 (.008) 30,000,000 (3.29 x 10-6) 386.4

(42) 3.407 (.283) .00276 (.754)5

1
2

N = 6,539 rpm

SELF-LOCKING
This feature allows the ring to function properly at speeds that exceed the
recommended rotational capacity. The self-locking option can be incorporated for both
external and internal rings. The self-locking feature utilizes a small tab on the inside
turn locking into a slot on the outside turn. Self-locking allows the ring to operate at
high speeds, withstand vibration, function under rapid acceleration and absorb a degree
of impact loading.

BALANCED
Smalleys balanced feature statically balances the retaining
ring. A series of slots, opposite the gap end, account for the
missing material in the gap. This characteristic is very useful
when the balance of the assembly is critical and it is necessary
to reduce eccentric loading.

LEFT HAND WOUND

Smalley retaining rings are wound standard in a clockwise
direction. In special applications it is sometimes favorable to
have the retaining ring reverse, left hand wound.

ENGINEERING

Right Hand (Standard Wound)

Left Hand (Reverse Wound)

CALL SMALLEY AT

847.719.5900

99

RING DESIGN

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RPM

M A X I M U M A L L O WA B L E R P M F O R S M A L L E Y R E TA I N I N G R I N G S S A E
PART
NUMBER VS
25
31
37
43
46
50
56
53
55
56
59
62
65
66
68
71
75
78
81
84
87
90
93
96
98
100
102
103
106
109
112
115
118
121
125
128
131
134
137
140
143

45 227
39 946
31 161
24 067

28 030

21 060

17 850

15 340

12 350

15 380

12 800

11 500

9 800

11 490

9 990

9 220

8 500

7 880

7 030

6 560

WS

WST

WSM

FSE

24 650

21 280
19 440
18 520
17 290
19 500
16 270
16 510
15 470
13 050
14 290
12 960
12 470
10 770
10 570
9 180
9 400
8 920
9 530
9 160
9 070
8 080
8 610
7 350
7 470
6 700
7 350
6 340
6 750
5 860
6 310
5 960
6 110
5 580
5 490

28 820
20 780

18 130
17 270
15 200
15 700

15 600
15 600

12 750
11 590
11 300

10 660

9 100

6 980
7 800
7 400

8 660

7 960

6 320

6 500

5 800

6 000

5 160

36 651
31 364
23 025
18 019
21 450
20 600

18 260
17 400
15 390
14 730

13 860
13 510

12 190
11 110
10 150

10 340

8 760

8 640
8 940
8 500

11 260

9 820

9 040

8 042

8 280

7 430

6 700

32 573
32 410

22 107

19 520

22 451

17 414

17 374

12 757

18 675

11 446

12 107

15 056

11 970

13 786

11 008

11 594

PART
NUMBER VS
146
150
156
157
162
168
175
177
181
187
193
196
200
206
212
215
216
218
225
231
236
237
243
250
255
256
262
268
275
281
287
293
295
300
306
312
314
315
318
325
331

WS

5 900
7 720

7 220
6 590
6 200

5 700
5 380
5 100

4 720
5 970
5 550

5 290
5 050
4 720

4 520
4 240
4 063

3 900
3 680
3 540
3 400
3 220
3 100
2 940

2 840
3 670
3 030

2 930
2 790
2 700

WST

5 020
4 940
5 343
5 240
4 880
4 930
4 510
4 410
4 290
4 240
4 020
3 860
3 740
3 550
3 400
3 490
3 370
3 290
3 220
3 020
2 870
2 890
2 920
2 750
2 600
2 600
2 500
2 470
2 340
2 380
2 260
2 140
2 160
2 080
2 020
1 980
1 980

1 930
1 870
1 840

4 670
5 160

4 690
4 110
3 930
3 960
4 170
3 850

3 320
3 410
3 340
3 120
3 120

2 820
2 730

2 560
2 480
3 040
3 430

2 780
2 630
2 560

2 260
2 200

2 150
2 090
1 990

1 990

1 900

WSM

6 540
6 110

5 750
5 260
4 970
4 990
4 720
4 540

4 730
4 560
3 810
3 560
3 450

3 240
3 040

3 380
3 180
3 090
2 920

2 750
2 680
2 790

2 590
2 460

2 410
2 290
2 240

2 190

2 100

FSE

12 178
9 004

9 118
8 595
8 101

8 470
6 440
8 047

7 650
7 103
6 603

6 316
6 040
5 786

6 343
5 089
4 994

5 118
4 073
4 797
3 981
4 074
3 927
3 727

3 537
3 245
3 853

3 731
3 557
3 595

PART
NUMBER VS
334
337
343
350
354
356
362
368
374
375
381
387
393
400
406
412
413
418
425
431
433
437
443
450
456
462
468
472
475
481
487
493
500
511
512
525
537
550
551
562
575

WS

2 630
3 500
2 440

2 370
2 270
2 210

2 120
2 060
2 010
1 930
1 880

2 090

1 960

1 850

1 750

1 670

1 580

1 520

1 440

1 310

1 190

1 090

WST

1 840
1 790
1 750
1 700
1 730
1 680
1 660
1 600
1 520
1 530
1 470
1 500
1 510
1 470
1 400
1 350
1 380
1 360
1 360
1 300
1 300
1 290
1 230
1 270
1 280
1 240
1 220
1 180
1 180
1 140
1 120
1 090
1 050
1 000
1 020
970
900
890
870
840
820

1 810

1 690
2 020
1 960

1 860
1 860

1 790

1 620
1 560
1 560

1 350

1 250

1 210

1 160

1 020

1 280

1 170

1 100

WSM
1 960

1 880
2 090
2 080
1 970
1 890
1 890

1 860

1 750
1 690
1 660

1 440

1 360

1 300

1 180

1 080

1 210

1 120

1 030

FSE

3 433
3 334
3 236

3 528
2 970
2 890

2 964
2 701
2 934
2 529
2 264

2 367

2 350

2 215

2 116

2 001

2 193

1 816

1 724

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RPM

M A X I M U M A L L O WA B L E R P M F O R S M A L L E Y R E TA I N I N G R I N G S M E T R I C

ENGINEERING

PART
NUMBER VSM

100

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
40
42
45
46
47
48

51 561
39 742
40 518
35 627
31 833
25 202
30 875
26 805
22 359
19 625
17 364
14 958
13 439
12 140
11 066
15 326
13 341
11 035
10 214
12 483
10 648
9 973
9 534
8 437
7 398
7 004
6 641
5 994
7 573
6 888
6 021
5 309

ES

DNS

FS

22 153
20 094
18 471
14 543
14 149
15 923
12 233
11 685
10 810
9 641
10 397
9 652
8 479
8 524
8 642
11 357
10 259
9 765
9 149
8 495
7 778
7 982
7 485
6 903
7 227
7 174
6 172
5 715
5 158
4 909
5 570
5 744

22 915
19 967
17 836
18 132
15 677
16 195
14 221
12 948
12 475
11 421
10 495
10 825
10 020
9 301
8 721
8 609
8 060
7 562
8 686
8 205
7 763
7 628
8 474
7 556
7 181
6 546
5 740
5 505
5 283
5 075

31 185
21 602
24 273
29 110
19 841
22 605
20 417
18 532
16 896
13 523
14 213
19 083
11 982
12 494
14 320
15 229
18 016
12 189
14 215
9 511
10 847
11 685
11 640
10 520
10 841
8 972
7 861
7 006
7 232
7 881

PART
NUMBER VSM
50
52
53
54
55
56
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
75
77
78
80
82
85
88
90
92
95
98
100
102
105
108
110
115
120

ES

DNS

FS

4 901
6 057
5 380
5 238
4 890
4 575
4 323
4 220
3 967
3 602
3 402
3 218
2 949
3 158
3 025
2 900
2 703
2 526
2 443
2 174
1 955

4 084
3 616
3 450
3 295
3 360
3 215
3 111
2 982
2 862
2 683
2 884
2 773
2 780
2 577
2 526
2 275
2 486
2 438
2 315
2 309
2 321
2 152
2 007
1 981
1 895
1 825
1 737
1 721
1 509
1 508

2 082

1 399

1 902
1 745
1 606

1 323
1 248
1 176

5 651
5 251
4 842
4 680
4 525
4 359
4 050
3 738
3 691
3 430
3 239
3 201
2 982
2 805
2 537
2 379
2 304
2 576
2 425
2 333
2 143
2 029
1 777
1 659
1 579
1 530
1 435
1 368
1 391
1 280
1 175

7 885
7 318
6 811
6 576
6 354
5 942
4 793
5 490
5 071
4 806
4 463
3 945
4 411
3 947
3 648
3 467
3 731
3 747
3 574
3 476
3 252
2 731
2 598
2 377
2 542
2 746
2 640
2 418
2 279
2 090
1 694

PART
NUMBER VSM
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
165
170
175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
330
340
350
360
370
380
390
400

ES

DNS

FS

1 022
961
1 060
1 000
945
894
848
898
854
813
775

1 092
993
934
870
821
755
891
831
795
749
697
657
631
591
569
534

802
734
674
622
575
582
541
505
472
443
-

579
530
482
444
413
381
354
328
-

1 088
1 017
952
888
835
788
733
690
753
715
671
636
601
577
551
518
495
466
425
527
486
451
424
390
363
382
357
342
316
299
343
322
305
291
276
262
251

1 778
1 647
1 530
1 519
1 331
1 470
1 379
1 296
1 201
1 151
1 088
1 030
1 115
860
880
837
1 068
1 077
932
854
735
726
743
718
714
624
584
-

1 483
1 374
1 270
1 186

WWW.SMALLEY.COM

RING DESIGN
INSTALLATION STRESS ANALYSIS
The equations provided are used to check that the elastic stress limit of the ring material is not exceeded by stress due to installation.
Standard parts that are assembled manually in the recommended shaft/bore and groove diameters do not require stress analysis. Special
rings, or rings being assembled with special tooling, require stress analysis.
To select a safe stress value, it is necessary to estimate the elastic limit of the raw material. The minimum tensile strength, as shown in
the materials table of the catalog, can be used as a suitable estimate. As with any theoretical calculation, a closer analysis of the actual
application may reveal that these stress values can be exceeded. However, particular consideration must be made to functional
characteristics such as installation method, the number of times the ring will be installed and removed, thrust load and/or centrifugal
capacity.
After forming, the rings natural tendency is to return to its original state. This places the inner edge of the radial wall in residual
tension and the outer edge in residual compression. To account for the residual stress in the ring when expansion is taking place, only
80% of the minimum tensile strength should be used to compare to the installation stress; see table 4.
In special designs, where the installation stress exceeds the materials elastic limit, rings can be produced to diameters which will yield a
predetermined amount during assembly. Once installed, the ring will have the proper cling (grip) on the groove.

I N S TA L L AT I O N S T R E S S
FORMULA:
For external rings

SE =

E b (DS - DI)
(DI + b)(DS + b)

For internal rings

SC =

E b (DO - DH)
(DO - b)(DH - b)

Application

Percent of Minimum
Tensile Strength

Shaft
Housing

80%
100%

Table 4
Where:
SE = Stress due to expansion (psi)
SC = Stress due to compression (psi)
E = Modulus of elasticity (psi)
b = Radial wall (in)
DS = Shaft diameter (in)
DH = Housing diameter (in)
DI = Free inside diameter, minimum (in)
DO = Free outside diameter, maximum (in)
E X A M P L E : Compare theoretical installation stress to percent of minimum tensile strength.
1. WS-100-S02
SE =

28,000,000 (.075) (1.000-.933)

(.933 + .075)(1.000 + .075)

SE = 129,845 psi
Minimum tensile strength of the ring material: 210,000 psi.
Using 80%, (Table 4), of 210,000 psi = 168,000 psi.
129,845 psi < 168,000 psi

CALL SMALLEY AT

847.719.5900

ENGINEERING

Since the installation stress is less than 80% of the minimum tensile strength,
permanent set is not expected.

101