An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Quasi-Static Behavior of Double-Helical Gear Sets

Abstract

The quasi-static behaviors of a double-helical gear pair is investigated both experimentally and theoretically with the main focus on the influence of the key design and manufacturing parameters associated with double-helical gears, including nominal right-to-left stagger angle, the stagger angle deviation (error) from the nominal stagger angle, and axial gear supporting conditions. On the experimental side, a double-helical gear test setup proposed earlier (Kang, M. R., and Kahraman, A., 2015, “An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Dynamic Behavior of Double-Helical Gear Sets,” J. Sound Vib., 350, pp. 11–29). for studying dynamics of the same system is employed that allows adjustable right-to-left stagger angles, intentional stagger errors, and axial support conditions. Specific measurement systems are developed and implemented simultaneously to measure the static motion transmission error and axial motions of the gears under low-speed conditions, as well as gear root strains to determine right-to-left load-sharing factors. A test matrix that covers wide ranges of stagger angles, intentional stagger error, and axial support conditions is executed within a range of torque transmitted to establish an extensive database. On the modeling side, the measured quasi-static behavior of double-helical gear pairs is simulated by using an existing quasi-static double-helical load distribution model (Thomas, J., and Houser, D. R., 1992, “A Procedure for Predicting the Load Distribution and Transmission Error Characteristics of Double Helical Gears,” World Congress-Gear and Power Transmission, The 3rd World Congress—Gear and Power Transmission, Paris.). Direct comparison of the measurements and predictions of loaded static transmission error, axial play, root stresses, and right-to-left load-sharing factors are used to validate the quasi-static model as well as describing the measured behavior.