Effects of different coupling models of a helical gear system on vibration characteristics

Time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) and the dynamic coupling between the helical gears have a great influence on the vibration characteristics of a helical gear rotor system. Considering the effects of TVMS and adopting two coupling models (lateral-torsional coupling model and lateral-torsional-axial-swing coupling model), the dynamic behavior of a helical gear system was studied. First, an analytical model was used to analyze TVMS of a helical gear pair where the helical tooth is simulated by many spur tooth slices along the direction of the tooth width and the mesh stiffness of each slice is calculated using the energy method. Then, considering the effects of the TVMS excitation, the finite element model of a helical gear rotor system was established. Gear mesh was simulated by the above-mentioned two coupling models to investigate the effects of coupling forms on the system vibration characteristics. The strain energy was used to distinguish the dominant mode and dominant shaft of a gear system in natural characteristics analysis. The results show that the full coupling model can analyze accurately the vibration characteristics of the system and the axial and swing motions cannot be ignored in vibration analysis. Finally, the effects of helix angle on TVMS and vibration responses of a helical gear system were also studied.