Accurate numerical computation of loaded tooth surface contact pressure and stress distributions for spiral bevel gears by considering time-varying meshing characteristics

Abstract

In order to meet the high strength demand from gear transmission in industrial applications, identification of loaded tooth contact performance using loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA) has become an increasing important design stage for spiral bevel gears. To distinguish with the conventional simulated loaded tooth contact analysis (SLTCA) applying commercial finite element software, a numerical loaded tooth contact analysis (NLTCA) method is proposed to determine the loaded contact pressure and stress. In particular, focusing on the time-varying meshing characteristics of loaded tooth contact, the loaded contact pressure and stress distributions on both instantaneous and whole contact ellipses of tooth surface are determined by the proposed NLTCA, respectively. First, the universal mathematical tooth surface mode is established by applying machine settings satisfying the universal motion concept (UMC). Moreover, the curvature analysis of the contact points is performed to determine the loaded tooth surface contact pattern as the input for the proposed numerical analytical calculation method. In the identifications of loaded contact pressure and stress, their distributions having the different directions in both the instantaneous contact ellipse and the whole loaded contact pattern are taken into account. Finally, the numerical instances are given to verify the proposed methodology.