Finite Element Analysis for Time Varying Mesh Stiffness behavior of different shapes of spalling

Abstract

Time Varying gear mesh stiffness is the variation of stiffness for the one contact period of a gear pair. Spalling on gear tooth is one of the most common defects in gear transmission. The loss of surface materials due to tooth spall reduces the Time-Varying Mesh Stiffness (TVMS) of the gear pair. The time varying mesh stiffness is the change in mesh stiffness for a gear pair in one contact period. The evaluation of the TVMS of the pair of gear tooth under gear tooth spalling conditions may be useful in finding its dynamic behavior or instant change in TVMS behavior may be the signal of fault developed. The potential energy method is used for analytical calculation of time varying mesh stiffness of the gear. The tooth spall may be of any shape and in this paper we have assumed the spall to be circular, triangular and elliptical and conducted analytical calculation to find TVMS and compare with healthy gear pair. The same gear pair with three shape of spall and modelled and verified through finite element analysis. The data may be used for further analysis. Also a number of shape may be modelled in future.