A Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Power Loss of Gearbox Based on Dimensionless Analysis

Abstract

A prediction model of gearbox power loss based on dimensionless analysis is proposed. First, the dimensional model of gearbox power loss is established based on similarity criterion, dimensional harmony principle, and fluid mechanics π theorem. Then, the experimental study is carried out on a power loss test bench. Based on the measured data and multiple linear regression method, the coefficients of the influencing factors are calculated, including gear design parameters, lubrication oil parameters, and operating conditions. To validate the prediction model, the gear pairs were tested under various operating conditions, and two new gear sets with different helical angles were also included. The comparison results show good consistency between the measured data and predicted values. The proposed model can be employed to effectively predict the power loss of gearbox and improve the gearbox efficiency.