Time-Domain Dynamic Analysis of Helical Gears with Reduced Housing Model 2013-01-1898

In this paper we present a time-domain dynamic analysis of a helical gear box with different housing models using a unique finite element-contact mechanics solver. The analysis includes detail contact modeling between gear pairs along with the dynamics of gear bodies, shafts, bearings, etc. Inclusion of the housing in the dynamic analysis not only increases the fidelity of the model but also helps estimate important NVH metrics, such as dynamic load and vibration transmission to the base, sound radiation by the gearbox, etc. Two different housing models are considered. In the first, the housing is represented by a full FE mesh, and in the second, the housing is replaced by a reduced model of condensed stiffness and mass matrices. Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) methods are employed to obtain the reduced housing model. Results from both the models are successfully compared to justify the use of reduced housing model for further studies.

Steady state sound radiation by the gear box housing is then studied in the frequency domain using a boundary element solver. The housing frequency response, which is the boundary condition for the acoustic analysis, is estimated using two different methods. In one method, the response is computed from the generalized coordinates and component modes using modal superposition, in the other the bearing dynamic loads are used to perform forced response analysis on the full FE mesh of the housing. Thus, a template for end-to-end solution to predict radiated noise from a gear box is established.