Effects of centrifugal load on tooth contact stresses and bending stresses of thin-rimmed spur gears with inclined webs

Firstly, centrifugal deformation and stresses of thin-rimmed spur gears with inclined webs are analyzed in this paper with the finite element method (FEM) when the gears run at very high speeds. It was found that centrifugal load has a significant effect on tooth root bending stresses of the thin-rimmed gears at high speeds. So, it is necessary to consider the effect of the centrifugal load on tooth root bending stresses into bending strength calculations of the thin-rimmed gears when the gear speed is greater than 10,000 min− 1. Secondly, loaded tooth contact analyses (LTCA) are conducted for the thin-rimmed inclined web gears when they are deformed by the centrifugal load and engaged with a solid mating gear. FEM combined with a mathematical programming method is used to do the analyses. Tooth contact stresses and root bending stresses of the thin-rimmed gears are calculated under a torque load. It was found that the centrifugal deformation of the thin-rimmed inclined web gears almost has no effects on the tooth contact stresses and root bending stresses. This conclusion is different from the one obtained from the thin-rimmed straight web gears. Li (2008) [5] reported that the centrifugal deformation of the thin-rimmed straight web gears had significant effects on the tooth contact stresses and root bending stresses of the contact teeth. Finally, it is explained why the centrifugal deformation of the thin-rimmed inclined web gears does not affect the tooth contact stresses and root bending stresses.

► Strength of the thin-rimmed spur gears with incline webs is analyzed by FEM.
► Effect of centrifugal load on deformation and stresses of the gear is studied.
► Loaded tooth contact analyses of the gears are conducted by FEM.
► Strength calculation methods of the gears at high speed are presented.