Investigation of Axial Misalignment Effects to the Gear Tooth Strength Properties Using FEM Model

Abstract

Misalignment between gear teeth is well-known to affect the strength properties of the gears. Despite many models proposed in research domain, investigations of the strength properties of a gear in axial misalignments condition are limited or yet to be discovered. In this study, an axial misalignment effects upon the strength properties of tooth surface contact stress and tooth root bending stress were discussed. A three tooth gear model was constructed based on a physical problem of two involute spur gears using an Autodesk Inventor gear design generator. The model was exported and analysed according to quasi-statics approach using a finiteelement method. Initially, the model was verified by comparing to the previous studies. The same models were then attached to a set of drive constraint misalignment plane, where a parametric study of the axial misalignments 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm was investigated. In general, results showed that axial misalignments do impact upon strength the strength properties of the gears. Tooth surface contact stress and tooth root bending stress showed between 5% to 15% incremental trend at different critical location while the strength reducing simultaneously with the application of axial misalignments. The pinion showed a weakening trend compare to the wheel when the application of axial misalignments took place. A series of verification tests was suggested to validate the finite-element model thus concluded that this research had achieved its main objectives where the strength properties of tooth surface contact stress and tooth root bending stress of the gear in axial misalignments gear were successfully investigated.