AGMA 12FTM16 PDF

This paper presents a gear design optimization approach that was applied to reduce both tooth contact temperature and noise excitation of a high­speed spur gear pair running without lubricant. The optimum gear design search was done using the RMC (Run Many Cases) program from The Ohio State University. Over 480 thousand possible gear designs were considered, which were narrowed down to the 31 best candidates based on low contact temperature and low transmission error. The best gear design was selected considering, also, its manufacturability. The selected optimum gear design was compared to an existing gear set using LDP (Load Distribution Program) from The Ohio State University. Tooth contact temperature was calculated for both designs using dry a steel­on­steel coefficient of friction. Predicted contact temperature correlated well with results observed on dynamometer tests with the existing gear set. Predictions with the optimized design showed a 48% contact temperature reduction and a 79% noise excitation reduction. The low contact temperature of the optimized design will significantly contribute to preventing tooth surface damage under no lubricant operating conditions.