Analytical characterization of damping in gear teeth dynamics under hydrodynamic conditions

•Trace method to study the teeth oscillatory response hysteresis loop.•Energy exchange mechanism in lightly loaded gear teeth.•Damping content in lubricated gear teeth under hydrodynamic conditions.

Using an analytical method, we characterize damping and stiffness in lightly loaded, lubricated gear pairs at different operating speeds and lubricant temperatures. This is accomplished by employing a trace method to approximate and model the hysteresis loop of the lubricant reaction, thus recording the energy transformation mechanism during the gear teeth oscillatory motion. The method can be expanded for use in a variety of problems where hydrodynamic vibro-impacts lead to energy dissipation.