Modal Analysis as a Tool of Problem Identification of Gear Mechanism

Abstract

The paper deals with modal analysis as a tool of problem identification of gear mechanism. The gear mechanism has been newly designed based on new principle, at which the motion and power are transferred from one input shaft to two output shafts in one direction. The noise emission measurements showed a problem with resonance at specific input shaft speeds that was necessary to solve. At the first step, the excitation frequencies have been computed to be possible to compare them with natural frequencies determined by modal analysis. I has been found out that the problem part was a toothed flange that is a part of gear-box. The paper aimed to create experimental and computational model of the toothed flange with subsequent verification of selected theories, to compare results obtained by numerical and experimental modal analysis and to assess the dynamic characteristics of the component with respect to its operating conditions. There are described conditions of both numerical and experimental modal analysis in the paper. The measurements have shown that the values of natural frequencies along with the natural shapes are adequate and comparable within the both investigation methods. Moreover, based on results, the shape of flange has been modified so to be the noise emission appropriate and the gear works properly.