A quasi-static FEM for estimating gear load capacity

•We present a new approach for estimating gear load capacity.•We examine gear contact stress and bending stress using ANSYS Workbench.•We compare the results of proposed method with AGMA standard.•We found that the AGMA standard has some limitations.•The proposed method can demonstrate the time-vary load capacity of gears.

Measurement of time-varying load capacity of gears is a vital process prior to manufacturing. There are two ways to evaluate the strength of gears, the analytical method proposed in AGMA and ISO standards and the finite element method (FEM). However, owing to the complex geometries and the use of empirical values, analytical model is not precise to perform the exact calculation. The current dynamic FEM and static FEM also have some disadvantages may cause the analysis of time-vary load capacity difficult. Therefore, the first aim of this study is to develop a new quasi-static FEM based on ANSYS Workbench to conduct the analysis of time-varying load capacity of gear system. The second aim is to compare results of the traditional method based on AGMA equations and quasi-static FEM. The effects of tip relief are also analysed using this new method.