Prediction of airborne radiated noise from lightly loaded lubricated meshing gear teeth

This paper introduces a novel analytical method for determination of gear airborne noise under lightly loaded conditions, often promoting gear rattle of loose unengaged gear pairs. The system examined comprises a single gear pair, modelled through integrated contact tribology and inertial transient dynamics. Lubricant film thickness, structural vibration and airborne gear noise are predicted and correlated with experimental measurements undertaken in a semi-anechoic environment. Good agreement is noticed between the numerical predictions and the experimental measurements. The presented model is capable of estimating the airborne radiated gear noise levels and the dynamic behaviour of gear pairs under different operating conditions, with superimposed impulsive input speed harmonics

On the dynamics of lubricated hypoid gears

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in the journal, Mechanism and Machine Theory. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2011.08.012The torsional dynamics of a vehicle differential hypoid gear pair is investigated. The model comprises applied torque, representing transmitted engine power, including engine order vibration. A number of gear teeth pairs transmit the applied torque through their lubricated conjunctions. Tooth contact analysis (TCA) is used to obtain the appropriate geometrical, kinematic and meshing parameters. These enable the evaluation of contact loads, film thickness and friction for conjugate teeth pairs, which are subject to mixed thermo-elastohydrodynamic regime of lubrication. It is shown that the lubricant undergoes non-Newtonian shear in line with the Eyring regime of traction. The inclusion of combined thermal non-Newtonian shear and boundary interactions has not hitherto been reported for the tribo-dynamics of hypoid gear pairs. When rate of change of gear teeth contact radii is included in the analysis more complex system dynamics (loss of teeth contact) result, particularly at higher speeds. The stated features constitute the main contributions of the current work, which have not hitherto been reported in literature. It is also shown that teeth contact separation ensues when resonant conditions are noted. This is regarded as the main root cause of a noise and vibration phenomenon, known as axle whine

Non-Newtonian mixed elastohydrodynamics of differential hypoid gears at high loads

Prediction of friction and transmission efficiency are design objectives in transmission engineering. Unlike spur and helical involute gears, there is a dearth of numerical analysis in the case of hypoid gear pairs. In particular, it is important to take into account the side leakage of the lubricant from the contact as the result of the lubricant entrainment at an angle to the elliptical contact footprint. In the automobile differential hypoid gears, high loads result in non-Newtonian behaviour of the lubricant, which may exceed its limiting shear stress, a fact which has not been taken into account in the open literature. This results in conditions which deviate from observed experimental tractive behaviour. The paper takes into account these salient practical features of hypoid gear pair analysis under high load. It highlights a non-Newtonian shear model, which limits the lubricant shear behaviour. Prediction of friction and transmission efficiency is in line with those reported in the literature