Sources of Excitation and Models for Cylindrical Gear Dynamics: A Review

Fabio Bruzzone,Carlo Rosso

doi:10.3390/machines8030037

Abstract

In this paper, a review of the evolution of the study of cylindrical gear dynamics is presented. After a brief historical introduction to the field, the first attempts to describe the complex interactions in those systems are analyzed introducing the dynamic factor and the first methodologies used to compute it. Next, the sources of excitation in geared systems are analyzed in detail and the models of the various contributions are discussed. Then, the paper focuses on the use of those sources in several dynamic models which are wildly different in terms of scope, applicability, complexity and methodology employed, ranging from simple analytical models, to lumped masses models up to multibody and finite element models. Finally, an outlook to the future evolution of the field is given and conclusions are drawn.

Highlights

Gears are among the most widely used methods to transmit motion and power, and they have been so since ancient times
In the most recent years, the development of methodologies has not slowed down mainly thanks to the increasing interest in this field coming from the aviation and wind turbines industry, which aims at constantly increasing the power density and reliability of the gearboxes, and from the progressive electrification of vehicles increasing the importance of the gearbox generated noise, since in some cases the electric engine is quieter than the reduction gearbox
This renewed interest has led to development of advanced and complex models, which can simulate the effects of the Bearing Time-Varying Stiffness (BTVS) [144] and the non-inertial conditions in which the gearing operates [145] which cause diverse nonlinear phenomena

Summary

Introduction

Gears are among the most widely used methods to transmit motion and power, and they have been so since ancient times. This great amount of literature available is due to the various aspects and outputs the engineers are interested in, starting from the stresses in the gears, the cumulated damage, the efficiency of the power transmission, the noise and vibration emission and propagation, the loads on the supporting members such as the bearings and the gearbox casing, all the way to more complex problems like rotor dynamics and the final life assessment of the entire transmission These dynamic effects are generated by the system kinematics, such as the cyclic variation of load due to gears rotation, and by the system flexibility. During the 1980s, Japanese researchers and engineers conducted several important experimental studies on torsional dynamics of gears including analyses of gear errors and profile modifications providing a solid groundwork for subsequent studies ([31,32,33,34,35,36,37])

Transmission Error

Other Sources

Dynamic Models

Advanced Models

Future Perspectives and Conclusions