Official Answer
Answer
Thrust capacity is often limited by the groove material rather than the ring itself. The allowable thrust load $F_g$ is given by $F_g = \frac{D %d \pi \sigma_y}{K}$, where $D$ is the shaft/bore diameter, $d$ is the groove depth, $\sigma_y$ is the yield strength of the groove material, and $K$ is a safety factor (typically 2). For soft materials like Aluminum 6061-T6, the groove will often deform plastically at the edge, causing the ring to 'dish' or tilt. This tilting reduces the effective shear area, leading to premature ejection. Engineers must ensure the groove depth $d$ is sufficient to keep the compressive stress below the yield point.
