Experimental Identification of Gear Mesh Stiffness and Verification by Theoretical Models

When analyzing the natural frequencies of a gear mechanism, it's crucial to consider the mesh stiffness, which is influenced by the number of teeth in the mesh. Mesh stiffness behaves as an internal excitation source for the dynamic system, affecting the resulting frequency spectrum. This paper presents an experimental determination of gear mesh stiffness supported by analytical-simulation models of mesh stiffness, outlining common modeling methods and detailing the experimental setup and test specimens. The obtained data are then compared with simulation models of mesh stiffness, discussing the significance of this comparison and emphasizing the role of experimental data in validating and refining existing models of mesh stiffness. The experimental measurement of mesh stiffness described here emerges as a valuable tool for accurately representing mesh stiffness during engagement.