Stress optimization and study of the sensitivity to geometric variations of a spur gear tooth profile

This paper presents an approach for obtaining an optimized geometry for the flank of a tooth by minimizing the equivalent contact stress. The stress calculation method is based on Hertz theory. As the majority of tooth profiles are involute, the geometric variation of the flank of the tooth is achieved variationally relative to the involute profile. The optimum profile is obtained by Monte Carlo simulation. During this optimization, a polynomial expression of the tooth geometry is used. The parameters influencing the simulation are the four characteristic contact points. The approach presented has been applied in a representative case. A study of the geometric sensitivity was conducted on the optimized tooth profile. Two different approaches were considered: by Monte Carlo simulation and analytical propagation. The robust and linear nature of the behavior of the tooth profile was demonstrated when it was subjected to geometric variations.