Improved time-varying mesh stiffness model of cracked spur gears

• An improved mesh stiffness calculation model for a cracked gear pair is proposed.
• Repeated consideration of the stiffness of the fillet-foundation is revised.
• Extended tooth contact (ETC) is considered in the improved model.
• Improved mesh stiffness calculation model is verified by finite element method.

Based on our previous work (Ma et al., 2014, Engineering Failure Analysis, 44, 179–194), this paper presents an improved analytical model (IAM) for the time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) calculation of cracked spur gears. In the improved analytical model, the calculation error of TVMS under double-tooth engagement due to repeatedly considering the stiffness of the fillet-foundation is revised, and the effects of reduction of fillet-foundation stiffness of cracked gears and extended tooth contact (ETC) are also considered, which have a great influence on TVMS, especially under the condition of large torques and crack levels. Moreover, the comparisons among the IAM, traditional analytical model (TAM) and finite element (FE) model are also carried out under different torques and crack depths. IAM is also verified by comparing TVMS and vibration responses obtained by FE model, which can be considered as a gauge to evaluate the calculation error. The results show that the maximum error of IAM is about 12.04%, however, that of TAM can be up to 32.73%.