A tribo-dynamic model of a spur gear pair

In this study, a tribo-dynamics model for spur gear pairs is proposed. The model couples a mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of a spur gear pair with a transversetorsional dynamic model. The lubrication model provides the dynamic model with friction forces and moments that couple the vibrations of the gears along the off-line-of-action direction to other gear vibrations. In addition, it predicts damping coefficient at the gear mesh in a physics-based manner from the energy loss associated with viscous shearing across the fluid film. In return, the dynamic model predicts the dynamic tooth forces and surface velocities to be used in the lubrication model. An iterative computational scheme is proposed to implement the lubrication and dynamics models simultaneously to couple tribological and dynamic behaviors of a spur gear pair fully. An example gear pair is analyzed using the proposed model to demonstrate this two-way relationship and quantify the impact of operating conditions, surface roughness and lubrication characteristics on the tribo-dynamics response. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.