Official Answer
Answer
The axial load capacity of a retaining ring assembly is often limited by the shear strength of the groove material rather than the ring itself. The maximum thrust load $P_g$ based on groove yield is $P_g = _x000c_rac{D imes d imes ext{π} imes ext{σ}_y}{K imes FOS}$, where $D$ is the shaft/bore diameter, $d$ is the groove depth, and $ ext{σ}_y$ is the yield strength of the housing material. If the axial load exceeds $P_g$, the groove 'lips' will deform plastically, causing the ring to 'dish' (tilt). This dishing reduces the effective contact area and leads to the ring being 'cammed' out of the groove, a common failure in aluminum housings.
