An approach for analysing the coupling effects between dynamics and tooth surface wear in a helical gear transmission system

An approach for analysing the coupling effects between dynamics and tooth surface wear in a helical gear transmission is proposed by integrating gear dynamics with modified Archard wear theory and the tooth time-varying meshing stiffness calculations. In this approach, the tooth time-varying meshing stiffness and dynamic backlash considering non-uniform wear are calculated and introduced into the dynamic model of a gear system to obtain the meshing force. The equivalent contact load from the meshing force using the Miner rule is brought into the wear model to predict tooth wear depths. The updated stiffness and backlash values caused by cumulative wear amount are re-submitted to the governing dynamic equation to perform a new round of calculations. Based on this analysis strategy, the coupling effects among dynamics, tooth non-uniform wear, time-varying meshing stiffness and backlash in a helical gear transmission is studied. The results indicate that the wear distributed across the tooth surface of a helical gear is non-uniform. With the increase in the cumulative amount of wear, the tooth meshing stiffness decreases and the tooth backlash converted from the accumulated wear amount is increased, which further decrease the dynamic performance of the transmission system.