Vibration of the seal ring induced by the axial pulsation, wobbling and initial distortion of the rotor surfaces in a face-seal assembly consisting of a seal ring and a carrier are analyzed. The analyses are divided into two parts: a rigid body analysis dealing with vibrations due to the axial pulsation and wobbling; and an elastic ring analysis dealing with vibration induced by the initial surface waviness of the rotor. The fluid film characteristics are approximated by linear springs having two direct and two cross-coupling spring stiffnesses in the transverse and angular directions with negligible damping. Results are obtained in terms of natural frequencies and influence coefficients characterizing the response of the seal ring to the rotor motion.Presented at the 23rd ASLE Annual Meeting in Cleueland, May 6–9, 1968