Improved algorithm for time-varying meshing stiffness of helical gears considering axial force component and its influencing factors

ObjectiveAiming at the problem of finding an accurate time-varying mesh stiffness solution for helical gears, a helical gear mesh stiffness calculation method based on axial force and slicing was proposed.MethodsEach lamellar gear was simplified as a variable-section cantilever beam, and a stiffness improved algorithm was proposed by adding a new axial bending potential energy through force analysis and further modifying the existing potential-energy-based method for calculating helical gear meshing stiffness. The feasibility of the improved algorithm was verified by comparing and analyzing with the finite element method and the slice method. On this basis, the effects of parameters such as helix angle, pressure angle, tooth number and tooth width on the meshing stiffness were investigated.ResultsThe results show that the traditional potential energy method is only applicable to helical gears with small helix angles, while the improved algorithm applies to arbitrary helical gears. The smoother the gearing performance is at increasing the helix angle. The pressure angle has less effect on the mean value of time-varying meshing stiffness. The tooth width has a large influence, which is approximately linear. When the center distance is certain, the change of the number of teeth has a smaller influence on the mean value, and the fluctuation value of the meshing stiffness is smaller when the number of teeth is larger. The fluctuation value is the smallest when the axial overlap is close to an integer.