Dynamic modeling and analysis of planetary gearbox incorporating the effect of elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Purpose Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) plays a crucial role in high-speed and heavy-duty gear transmission systems, exerting significant influence on efficiency, vibration, noise and service life. This study aims to investigate the dynamic response of gear transmission systems under EHL operating conditions. Design/methodology/approach An analytical methodology is proposed to investigate the influence of lubricating oil parameters on dynamic transmission error (DTE), dynamic meshing force (DMF) and vibration velocity of a planetary gearbox. Herein, the oil film pressure and thickness are calculated by the relaxation iterative method to couple the EHL model with the dynamic model of the planetary transmission system. Findings The results show that the DTE decreases significantly, and the vibration amplitude of DMF and vibration velocity also show notable reductions when considering the effect of EHL. In addition, with an increase in oil viscosity, the comprehensive stiffness decreases, while the oil film damping in the single-tooth meshing region increases significantly. This leads to an increase in the peak-to-peak value of DMF and has a greater impact on single-double-tooth alternating meshing. Originality/value This research better reveals the lubrication-induced vibration mechanism, which can provide a dynamic theoretical basis for the vibration control and life prediction of the planetary gearbox. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: Link to the cited article.